Division Leadership
No matter where you are in your career, we are here as your trusted real estate advisors for every step in the process.
Meet Michael
National Director of the Military Division
Born in Traverse City, Michigan, Michael enlisted in the United States Navy in 2000, advancing to the rank of E6 before earning his commission through the Officer Candidate School program in 2010. Throughout his career, he has deployed multiple times, including missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom and two back-to-back Western Pacific deployments with the USS Carl Vinson Strike Group. He continues to serve on active duty as a Lieutenant Commander at Naval Special Warfare Command in San Diego.
In addition to his military career, Michael is deeply involved in real estate, specializing in helping military families and veterans navigate homeownership and investment opportunities. He co-founded Compass Military Division with Todd Armstrong, a real estate initiative dedicated to serving military personnel by providing expert guidance on buying, selling, and investing in real estate, particularly in cities with major U.S. military bases. He is also the Founder of Fortitude (a wealth-buying strategy program for veterans and active military) and the Director of Business Development with the Zinkil Group at Cornerstone First Mortgage.
His education includes a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate College and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Management major from Columbia College of Missouri. He is also a Military Relocation Professional certified by the National Association of Realtors.
Michael is married to Shelley Nyland, who serves as the Marketing Director for Compass Military Division, and together they have three amazing children.
Meet Todd
Regional Director of San Diego, CA
Todd is originally from Covington, Kentucky right across the river from Cincinnati Ohio & started his Naval career in 1986 at the ripe old age of 17. After completing his advanced training in Aviation Electricity and Electronics, his first duty station was at NAS Cubi Point, Philippines. Upon completion of that tour, he found his way to San Diego and more specifically to Miramar, Naval Air Station, working on the greatest fighter jet in the world, the F-14 Tomcat. After years of deployments overseas and 3 aircraft carriers, he ended his 23 year career here in San Diego where he retired as a Senior Chief.
Additionally, Todd continued serving his country as a civilian contractor and Lead Field Engineer working for General Atomics as a Deployment Team Leader, leading teams in Iraq & Afghanistan overseeing combat operations utilizing the Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) across the globe supporting the war on terrorism, the Iraq war and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan just to name a few.
Todd is also part of the Sports & Entertainment Division with Compass. This is to provide clients with trusted representation from an experienced and knowledgeable real estate partner who understands the importance of extreme discretion, security, and communication.
Todd is a seasoned expert who embodies integrity, honesty, and extreme discretion in every client experience and brings this wealth of real estate experience to his role as Team Lead for Compass, Sports & Entertainment Division.
Meet Aaron
Chief Operations Officer
Born and bred in the historic city of Boston, Massachusetts, Aaron Peña brings over 20 years of distinguished service as a NAVY SEAL to the world of real estate. His military career instilled in him the discipline, focus, and adaptability that now fuel his success in the real estate industry.
After enlisting in the U.S. Navy right out of high school, Aaron embarked on an extraordinary journey, leading elite special warfare operators through five deployments to the Middle East and Asia. His experiences in high-threat environments shaped his leadership skills and sharpened his ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure.
Transitioning into real estate, Aaron quickly established himself by investing in residential properties—focusing on acquisitions, renovations, and leasing. His hands-on, meticulous approach, combined with a commitment to excellence, ensures that every client’s real estate goals are met with precision and care.
Today, Aaron serves as the Regional Director for the Compass Military Division in Northeast Florida, where he proudly supports active duty service members, veterans, and military families. As a member of Team Boz within the Sports & Entertainment Division, he provides elite-level representation to high-profile clients, valuing discretion, security, and consistent communication. Armed with an MBA from UCLA Anderson, Aaron combines strategic expertise with dedication to deliver exceptional results for his clients, helping make Jacksonville one of the nation's premier places to live.
Aaron resides in Saint Augustine, FL, with his wife Vivian and their three children. A proud family man and seasoned real estate professional, Aaron is not your regular agent—he's your trusted ally in turning your real estate dreams into reality.
Meet Shelley
Marketing Director
Shelley Nyland grew up in Lake Orion, MI, and graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Public Relations and Marketing. She began her career in marketing at Navy Federal Credit Union, where she worked as a Recruit Presentation Specialist, educating Navy recruits on responsible banking and wealth-building strategies.
As a Navy wife, Shelley made the decision to step away from her professional career for 13 years, supporting her husband Michael’s Navy career while raising their three children. During this time, she embraced the opportunity to travel, start a nonprofit organization called Aubree's Closet, and serve in various volunteer roles. She was the PTO president at her children’s school and volunteered at the Naval Medical Center as a grief speaker and NICU reunion board member.
Shelley is excited to join the CMD team as Marketing and social media director so she can continue to give back to those who gave so much to their country.
Meet John
LGBTQ Resource Director
John Hernandez grew up in San Diego. Born in San Antonio, Texas, John followed in his father's footsteps and joined the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman specializing in Aviation Medicine. While in the Navy John was a Naval Aircrewman and Naval Rescue Swimmer. The Majority of John's military career was spent as a "Doc" for the USMC at Quantico.
Upon completion of my east coast tour, John then headed west as the Squadron HM for VAW-112 out of Pt. Mugu, CA. While at VAW-112 John deployed on 2 combat missions in the Gulf, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Once on the USS John C. Stennis and USS Carl Vinson. Upon completion of my military service, John earned his wings as a founding member of Virgin America. Having devoted years to customer service, John has the experience, patience, and foresight to anticipate problems before they arise. He adds military precision and organization to real estate negotiations, providing thoughtful solutions and negotiating best possible outcomes for his clients.
As Armstrong & Associates launches the Military Division for COMPASS, John will be the LGBTQ+ liaison to all active and former military personnel and their families when they move to San Diego and Southern California.
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