Alexander Nikitin was born in the village of Yertsevo, Konosha Vicinity, Arkhangelsk Region, Russia on 22 March 1954.
    In 1975, he graduated with honours from the Ulyanovsk Guards Tank Command School and assumed command over a tank platoon and a tank company, was chief of staff and commander of a tank battalion.
    Having completed the Malinovsky Military Academy of Armoured Forces in 1983, Alexander Nikitin took command over a tank battalion, was deputy chief of staff, chief of staff and commander of a motorised infantry regiment, chief of materiel storage of a motorised infantry division, chief of staff of the 11th guards independent mechanised brigade, commander of the 6th guards independent mechanised brigade, chief of staff of the 28th army corps.
    In 2001, he earned an honoured degree at the Russian General Staff Academy and assumed command over the 65th army corps, Belarus Armed Forces, then became commander of the North-Western Operational Command and chief of staff, first deputy commander of the Army, Belarus Armed Forces.
    On 6 July 2006, Alexander Nikitin was appointed Commander of the Army, Belarus Armed Forces, following a relevant President's degree.