Councilwoman Nikki McMillen Lee

Councilwoman Nikki McMillen Lee represents Ward 4 on the Tucson City Council, where she is serving her second term following her re-election in 2023. Nikki is an Air Force veteran, Executive and Leadership Coach, and a dedicated mother raising four children.

Born and raised in a small rural town in Illinois with a population of just over 1,600, Nikki grew up in a working-class family. Her father, a retired miner and active preacher, and her mother, a small business owner, instilled in her a strong work ethic and a commitment to service.

At 17, Nikki enlisted in the United States Air Force, combining her passion for technology with her desire to serve her country. While stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Nikki met her husband, Antoan. Together, they fell in love with Tucson and chose to make it their permanent home to raise their family.

Nikki spent over 20 years building expertise in technology and cybersecurity, gaining experience across federal government roles during her military service, as well as in the defense and agriculture industries. Her career spans from working with Fortune 50 companies to small, agile tech startups, providing her with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by both large organizations and nimble, fast-paced enterprises. Nikki also leveraged the GI Bill to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a minor in Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management, and an MBA in IT Management, both with honors.

On the council, Nikki champions high-quality and reliable city services, emphasizing technology, innovation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Her leadership has focused on making Tucson a safer, more connected, and future-ready community.

With a deep commitment to serving her constituents, Nikki passionately advocates for progress and innovation, driven by a vision of making Tucson an even better place for her children and all of Tucson’s children to thrive for generations to come.