Patrick F. Noonan (born 1943) is an American conservationist and was president of

The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US. Founded in 1951, The Natu ...

from 1973 to 1980, and the Conservation Fund. He was a recipient of the Lady Bird Johnson Environmental Award. He graduated from

Gettysburg College Gettysburg College is a private liberal arts college in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1832, the campus is adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefield. Gettysburg College has about 2,600 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women. ...

with BS Business Administration, (1965), from

American University The American University (AU or American) is a private federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Its main campus spans 90 acres (36 ha) on Ward Circle, mostly in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Northwest D.C. AU was chart ...

with an MBA, and from

Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Roman Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by U.S ...

, with a MS in City and Regional Planning. He has served on three Presidential Commissions: the Commission on Americans Outdoors; Commission on Environmental Quality; and the Commission on White House Fellows. He currently serves on the board of trustees of the

National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...

and is Vice Chairman of the Society's Education Foundation. He is also on the board of advisors of the

Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions is one of six interdisciplinary research institutes at Duke University located in Durham, North Carolina. Founded in 2005, it became the first environmental-policy-centered Institute with a Duke ...

and was previously a board member of the Chesapeake Conservancy. His daughter, Karen Elizabeth Noonan (1967–1988) was one of the victims of the terrorist bombing of

Pan Am Flight 103 Pan Am Flight 103 was a regularly scheduled Pan Am transatlantic flight from Frankfurt to Detroit via a stopover in London and another in New York City. The transatlantic leg of the route was operated by ''Clipper Maid of the Seas'', a Boeing ...

over

Lockerbie Lockerbie (, gd, Locarbaidh) is a small town in Dumfries and Galloway, south-western Scotland. It is about from Glasgow, and from the border with England. The 2001 Census recorded its population as 4,009. The town came to international atte ...

, Scotland. Noonan is quoted in the profile prepared by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration when he received its Pugsley Medal in 2005: "Noonan's early childhood was spent with weekends in the great outdoors on rural lands owned by his family in Maryland. He developed there a deep and abiding love for nature and respect for its beauty. Later he noted, 'I had the privilege of transferring the land to the Maryland Parks and Planning Commission to create Little Bennett Regional Park. It was the most satisfying moment of my life, realizing that for all time generations would come to walk the land and experience firsthand the daily miracles of nature.'"

Awards

* 1985

MacArthur Fellows Program The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and commonly but unofficially known as the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically to between 20 and 30 indi ...

* 2005 Pugsley Medal * 2009 George Bird Grinnell Memorial Award

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Noonan, Patrick 1943 births Living people American conservationists Gettysburg College alumni Kogod School of Business alumni Catholic University of America alumni MacArthur Fellows