A Trusted Veteran-Led Firm
Dr. Stephen E. Vela is a PA and the owner/CEO of Stevel Nexus Consulting, LLC. He has served in the Air Force since June 1994. His first 13 years of service were as an enlisted member reaching the rank of TSgt before attending the military’s Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) from August 2006 to September 2008 and commissioning as a 1st Lt. His most recent position was the Deputy Branch Chief, Clinical Engineering and Sustainment at Ft Detrick, MD and serving as the Air Force PA Family Medicine Consultant.
Before this, he was the Flight Commander for Aerospace and Operational Medicine Clinics at Hill AFB, UT, Dover AFB, DE, and Travis AFB, CA. These clinics provided primary care for military members, including special forces, members on flight status, and specialties such as Security Forces.
In addition to providing primary care, these operational clinics perform all the required physical exams, including Periodic Health Assessments (PHAs), Deployment Related Health Assessments (DRHAs), Separation Health Physical Exams (SHPEs), and Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) summaries.
Since graduating from IPAP, he has built his expertise in the medical conditions associated with MEBs and VA disability. While leading clinics, he primarily focused on PHAs, DRHAs, SHPEs, Flight Physicals, Occupational Physicals, and MEBs. Additionally, under his most recent flight command at Hill AFB, Utah, the Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Office (responsible for processing MEBs) fell under his command, so he is knowledgeable about the medical evaluation system, including the VA disability system.
EDUCATION
- 1999 Airman Leadership School
- 2004 Associate of Applied Science, Community College of the Air Force
- 2007 Bachelor of Science, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine
- 2008 Master of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine
- 2012 Aerospace Medicine Primary course 201
- 2012 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
- 2019 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
- 2022 Air War College, currently enrolled
- 2024 Doctor of Medical Science in Psychiatric Medicine
- ASSIGNMENTS
- Jan 95 – Jul 98, Munitions Systems Journeyman, Hill AFB, UT
- Jul 98 – Jul 01, Munitions Systems Journeyman, Ramstein AB, Germany
- Jul 01 – Jul 06, Munitions Systems Craftsman, Cannon AFB, NM
- Jul 06 – Aug 07, Interservice Physician Assistant Program Phase I, Fort Sam Houston, TX
- Aug 07 – Sep 08, Interservice Physician Assistant Program Phase II, Edlin AFB, FL
- Sep 08 – Jul 12, Staff Physician Assistant, Ellsworth AFB, SD
- Aug 12 – Jun 15, Flight Medicine Physician Assistant, Hurlburt Field, FL
- Jun 15 – Aug 19, Phase II Director/Flight Medicine Flight Commander, Travis AFB, CA
- Sep 18 – Dec 18, Flight Medicine Flight Commander, Dover AFB, DE
- Aug 19 – Aug 22, Operational Medicine Clinic Flight Commander, Hill AFB, UT
- Aug 22 – Mar 25, Deputy Branch Chief, Clinical Engineering and Sustainment (Equip), Air Force Medical Agency, Fort Detrick, MD
DR. SAMANTHA J. KELPIS
Dr. Samantha J. Kelpis is a physician associate consultant at Stevel Nexus Consulting, LLC. Samantha has been practicing family medicine for 25 years. Throughout her career, Dr. Kelpis has filled a myriad of roles within the medical community to include supporting both Operations Enduing Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. While in primary care she treated military members that included special forces, specialties such as Security Forces, to flight line crew, to Fire Fighters. In addition to providing primary care, she performed all the required physical exams, including Periodic Health Assessments (PHAs), Deployment Related Health Assessments (DRHAs), Separation Health Physical Exams (SHPEs), and Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) summaries. Since graduating from the military’s Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) in September 2000, she has built her expertise in the medical conditions associated with MEBs and VA disability. Prior to her current position, Dr. Kelpis launched the Air Force Surgeons General's strategic prolonged casualty care program, MEDIC-X.
EDUCATION
- 1990 Airman Leadership School
- 1998 Associate of Applied Science
- Community College of the Air Force 2000 Bachelor of Science
- University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine 2002 Master of Physician Assistant Studies
- University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine 2007 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
- 2013 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
- 2017 Intermediate Executive Skills Course
- 2018 Air War College
- 2024 Doctor of Medical Science in Administrative Medicine
ASSIGNMENTS
- December 1990 - August 1992, Medical Technician, Homestead AFB, Fla.
- August 1992 - August 1998, Medical Technician, Eglin AFB, Fla.
- August 1998 - August 1999, Physician Assistant School Phase 1 Student, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
- September 1999 - September 2000, Physician Assistant School Phase 2 Student, Offutt AFB, Neb.
- September 2000 - February 2004, Physician Assistant, Andrews AFB, Md
- February 2004 - October 2007, Physician Assistant, McChord AFB, Wash.
- July 2005 - February 2006, Medical Director, Provincial Reconstruction Team/Forward Operating BaseMethar Lam, Laghman Province, Afghanistan
- October 2007 - October 2009, Physician Assistant, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom
- July 2008 - January 2009, Officer-in-Charge Clinical Education and Training Multi-National SecurityTransition Command-Iraq Health Affairs, Camp Phoenix, Baghdad, Iraq
- November 2009 - October 2012, Element Chief and Primary Care Manager, Family Health Care Clinic,Hickam AFB, Hawaii
- June 2011 - March 2012, Medical Director, Provincial Reconstruction Team Kapisa, Forward OperatingBase Morales-Frazier, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan
- October 2012 - May 2015, Flight Commander and Primary Care Manager, Tactical Air Control PartySchoolhouse, Hurlburt AFB, Fla
- May 2015 - July 2018, Program Director, Physician Assistant Consultant, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- April 2020 - April 2021, Corona-virus Disease-2019 Operations and Surgeon General Cell Liaison,Task Force South East, Shaw AFB, S.C
- July 2021 - Feb 2025, Physician Assistant Consultant, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
- Feb 2025 - present, Defense Health Headquarters, Informatics Branch
Expertise Backed by Experience
With over 30 years of active-duty service in the Air Force, including 16+ years as an officer, Dr. Vela brings firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges veterans face. Our team thoroughly reviews your medical records, conducts in-depth research into the scientific literature, and delivers professionally crafted Nexus Letters to support disability claims.
A Proven Record of Excellence
Our team has a proven track record, with a greater than 98% approval rate, and our clients have nothing but praise for our services. Our high-quality, affordable, and trusted service ensures veterans get the benefits they deserve, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to excellence and advocacy.
Our Mission
Serving Veterans globally, Stevel Nexus Consulting's mission is to assist veterans in securing their rightful VA disability ratings. We provide affordable, detailed, focused medical record reviews to support our expert medical opinion (Nexus) letters.Â
Comprehensive and Personalized Support
By combining medical expertise with a deep understanding of military service, we provide veterans with the best possible chance of success in their disability claims. Our goal is to make the VA claims process as smooth and stress-free as possible for every veteran we assist. Contact us to learn more.