Mr. Nolan leads the U.S. mining industry as president & CEO of the National Mining Association (NMA) from its offices located at the base of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. A proven leader, policy expert and political strategist, he has held the position of president and Chief Executive Officer since 2019.
Mr. Nolan leads the association’s public policy advocacy before the White House and the administration’s agencies, members of Congress and the Judiciary. He also sets the association’s strategic agenda for media, grassroots and political engagement. He is a frequent contributor on broadcast news, digital and print outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, The Washington Post, Washington Times, The Fox News Channel and Newsmax.
For many years he has been recognized as a “Top Lobbyist” by The Hill, has received the “Top Lobbyist” award from the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics and is one of Washingtonian’s “500 Most Influential People.”
In 2024, Mr. Nolan spearheaded the association’s first rebrand in more than two decades and has recently directed the creation of NMA-TV to help provide real time mining related policy content across NMA’s digital media channels.
Rich has more than 30 years of experience advocating for multiple heavy industries and natural resources sectors including mining, forestry, paper, chemicals and agriculture. His career began on Capitol Hill, as an aide to several members of Congress and as an advisor for multiple campaign committees.
Mr. Nolan is on the Board of the U.S. Energy Association and was recently appointed by the Secretary of Energy to the National Coal Council. He and his wife Heather have two adult children and reside in Maryland with their chocolate lab named Bay.