Raider Nation Origin Stories: Meet James Hollins, America's unsung first Black nuclear test leader

Dec 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

It doesn't take rocket science to explain James Hollins' decision to become a Raiders fan – even though that is his occupation.

Hollins moved to Southern Nevada in 1981 after graduating from Louisiana Tech University, and once the Raiders relocated in 2020, he was instantly drawn to the team and became a season ticket holder.

"I think they've impacted [Las Vegas] tremendously, especially with Allegiant Stadium," Hollins said of the arrival of the Raiders. "It brings in so much sports and concerts and it gives people a lot of things to do. ... It's just making it a sports town and I'm going to follow the Raiders no matter what."

While he's become a fan based on locale and embracing the Raider Nation spirit, what's interesting is Hollins' path to Las Vegas from growing up in Mer Rouge, Louisiana – a town of less than 500 people, as of 2020. He followed his older brother's footsteps to Louisiana Tech, where the two earned bachelor's degrees in civil engineering. Shortly after graduating, he set his sights on Las Vegas to work at a nuclear test site.

"Nuclear testing used to be one of the big things here in Nevada at the test site because it was one of the ones that was leading the nation as far as in defense deterrent," he said. "And I felt like this was one of the things that could help me in my career because I enjoy the work."

After three years, he was promoted to event engineer at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) by the National Nuclear Security Administration. While at LANL, he led the first joint nuclear test with the USSR and managed the final U.S. nuclear test in 1992.

He also broke down color barriers as the first Black American to lead a nuclear test in the country.

View this post on Instagram

Fast forward to 2020, while managing the Execution Working Group for the NNSA, Hollins went all in on the Silver and Black – also becoming a season-ticket member for the three-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

Growing up, Hollins didn't claim a particular NFL team. He was more into following the NFL careers of former Louisiana Tech players, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, one of his favorite all-time players and still the highest drafted player from his alma mater.

Fortunately for Hollins, the Raiders had just selected a fellow Bulldog the same year he became a Raiders fan.

"I wanted to support the home team and then I found out Amik Robertson was from Louisiana Tech, and he was with [the Raiders] for awhile."

A few of Hollins' favorite Raiders on the current roster include running back Ashton Jeanty and quarterback Geno Smith. He's actually been a fan of Smith since the QB was a Seahawk as Hollins occasionally went to games while visiting his daughter, who works in the front office of the Seattle Storm, in Washington.

"We're Raiders all the way right now," he said. "Even my daughters come in and we'll go to those games."

And in the short five years the Raiders have been in Las Vegas, Raider Nation has taken Hollins and his family in as their own.

"I've been a season ticket holder from Day 1 and I've ran into such good friends," he said. "The camaraderie with all of the people around me and we just look forward to going to the games and actually seeing each other and talking about the game. We are loyal fans. We're going to be the ones that stand out and be there for the Raiders regardless."

1 / 46

Raiderettes Ali and Annalise welcome students to a Raiders Youth Holiday Party at Intermountain Health Performance Center.