The Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe announced the appointment of John U. Nash as tribal administrator, effective Saturday.

Nash brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in tribal economic development, governance, organizational management and community advancement. His career has focused on helping build strong institutions, create economic opportunities and plan for sustainable growth.

“John’s experience in tribal economic development and organizational leadership makes him uniquely qualified to help guide our government and support the vision of the Tribal Council,” said Chief Ogletree Richardson. “We are excited to welcome him to the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe and look forward to what we believe he will bring to this role.”

A significant portion of Nash’s career has been dedicated to tribal economic development and supporting tribal sovereignty through community-centered leadership. 

With the Tule River Economic Development Corporation, he helped advance tribally driven initiatives in enterprise expansion, workforce development and infrastructure planning, contributing to projects that created jobs, expanded opportunities and strengthened long-term tribal prosperity. 

Working with tribal leadership, federal agencies and private-sector partners, Nash supported initiatives that balanced economic growth with tribal community priorities and values, giving him a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing tribal nations today.

Most recently, Nash served as principal consultant with The Rock Mill Group, advising tribal governments, nonprofit organizations and community leaders on governance, strategic planning, organizational development and leadership.

He previously served as executive director of The Arc of North Carolina, leading statewide operations serving thousands of individuals and families, overseeing major housing initiatives, managing complex funding and compliance requirements and guiding the organization through policy and system transformations.

Nash holds a Master of Arts in Administrative Leadership and Conflict Resolution from Fresno Pacific University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Relations of the Pacific Rim and Japanese Language from Brigham Young University. 

His background includes strategic planning, public administration, organizational leadership, economic development and government relations.

As tribal administrator, Nash will oversee day-to-day operations, support implementation of Tribal Council priorities and work with staff, partners and tribal citizens to strengthen governance, enhance services and create opportunities for future generations.