Major General Alan A. Nord was born on 7 August 1928 in Faulkton, South Dakota. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Military Police branch before going to college at South Dakota State. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and entered the Infantry branch but switched to the Chemical Corps in which he served more than 30 years.

During that time, Major General Nord served in a wide variety of chemical positions culminating as the Commanding General of Fort McClellan, Alabama and the U.S. Army Chemical School. While Commandant, he built the foundation of the current school and made significant progress in the expansion of the physical plant, including the funding and building of the 24,000 square foot Sibert Hall.

Major General Alan A. Nord passed away in 1990.