Edwin “Ned” Nolan, Jr. is a retired senior U.S. diplomat and was immediate past Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname from 2015-2018. During his tenure, Amb. Nolan restored frayed relations with the former Surinamese president and established contacts with the then opposition leader who, as a result of the May 2020 election, is now president. Amb. Nolan worked closely with and advocated for American energy and resource companies resulting in heading off attempts by the prior president to renegotiate contracts. He assisted in bringing Suriname into the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and increased cooperation on critical U.S. objectives regarding counterterrorism, human rights and counter narcotics, spurring a ten fold increase in illegal drug seizures during his tenure.
Amb. Nolan previously served as Charge d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in The Hague from 2008-2013, leading a mission with over 200 staff members and representatives from 15 federal agencies. From 2008-2010, he was Director of the State Department’s Office of Canadian Affairs, the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs regarding the full range of issues relating to the federal and provincial governments of Canada. His efforts in that assignment included chairing negotiations leading to the renewal of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement affecting eight U.S. states, three Canadian provinces and over 50 million people.
Other assignments have included State and Defense Department positions dealing with the U.K., Benelux and Ireland; the Nordic countries and the Office of Policy Planning. Other foreign assignments included Dublin where he focused on the Northern Ireland Peace Process and made significant contributions to the Provisional Irish Republican Army’s decision to lay down arms; Cyprus; Norway; Sweden; and Canada. He is a five-time recipient of the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award over a 38-year career.
He received an A.B. in history and political science from Boston College and carried out graduate studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He and his wife reside in the Boston area, as do his two children. He is an avid golfer, acknowledging more passion than talent.