Roll of Honor
Nicholas Jerome Alden
Incident
Senior Airman Nicholas Jerome Alden, 25 years old, was killed in a terrorist attack at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, on March 2, 2011 — the first islamist terrorist attack on American military personnel on German soil.
Senior Airman Alden was standing outside a bus transporting U.S. Air Force personnel when a gunman approached and engaged him in conversation before suddenly drawing a handgun and shooting him in the back of the head. He was killed instantly. The attacker then boarded the bus, shot and killed the airman at the wheel, and wounded two others before his weapon jammed. A fellow airman pursued the gunman into the terminal and held him until German police took him into custody.
On February 10, 2012, the 21-year-old assailant was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Senior Airman Alden had served four years in the United States Air Force and was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, who was expecting their child at the time of his death, and two children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-FED-F4EA70F4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Security Policeman Alden gave the United States Air Force Security Forces 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Nicholas Jerome Alden served in the Air Force (2007â2011) before joining law enforcement.
Security Policeman Nicholas Jerome Alden is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Air Force Security Forces, 13 of 41 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 31.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Nicholas Jerome Alden's cause is highlighted.
How Nicholas Jerome Alden Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Nicholas Jerome Alden is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Nicholas Jerome Alden was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
40 officers from United States Air Force Security Forces are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
