Nolen, John, 1898-1986

Member of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission in Washington, D.C., an independent planning consultant, and director of transportation planning for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

John Nolen Jr. (b. February 2, 1898, Ardmore, Pennsylvania-d. June 20, 1986), director of the National Capital Planning Commission from 1951 to 1958. His work with the National Capital Planning Commission began in 1931 when the commission was called the National Park and Planning Commission. During his tenure, the Commission worked in the planning of parkways, highways, parks, playgrounds, and public buildings. He was supportive of the construction of the George Washington Parkway in both Virginia and Maryland, and supervised the preparations of early plans for what would become Metro. After leaving the National Planning Commission in 1958, Nolen became an independent planning consultant until he returned to government service in 1962 as Director of Transportation in what became the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He held this position for six years. He was also devoted to conservation of area water resources, and served on the Maryland State Water Quality Advisory Commission where he was involved in the restoration efforts in Georgetown and other areas near the C&O Canal. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.