John Nicholson

John Nicholson returned to service as the Chief Deputy Secretary, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in January 2025.  Nicholson previously served as the Chief Deputy Secretary for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality for five years (2017-2022). In this capacity he led and coordinated the efforts of the department and the senior staff in executing the department’s mission and associated goals and objectives which included securing the largest coal ash clean-up in United States history and supporting efforts to clean-up of the Cape Fear River, which had been contaminated for years by the toxic chemicals per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS).  In addition to the many duties he performed, he was also tasked as the agency’s lead on disaster recovery, marine fisheries, risk and resilience planning, economic development coordination and modernizing all aspects of the department’s environmental permitting processes.

From 2022-2025 Nicholson served as the Chief of Staff for EPA’s Southeast Region (Region 4) where he was in direct support of EPA efforts to protect public health and the environment for the region spanning Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and six federally recognized tribes.

John is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served on active duty for 28 years. Upon his retirement he assumed the role of military affairs advisor to two North Carolina governors where he was accountable for guiding the Governor’s strategic vision and execution of efforts to develop and grow jobs in NC’s $23 billion+ military and defense economy.  

John earned a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College, a master’s degree in military studies from the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College and a bachelor’s degree in political science from San Diego State University.

A native of Sacramento, California, John and his wife Madeline have three adult children who live in North Carolina, and Virginia.