A former state legislator from Virginia, L. Preston Bryant, Jr. was appointed chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) by President Barack Obama in September 2009. His term on the commission expires in 2013. The NCPC reviews all plans and projects related to federal development in the National Capital Region, including museums, memorials, office buildings, and security projects.

 

Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, on June 5, 1964, Bryant received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Randolph-Macon College (1986), his Masters of Humanities from the University of Richmond (1988) and a Master of Arts in modern British literature from Royal Holloway College, University of London (1990).

 

He served as a manager and partner at Hurt & Proffitt, Inc., a Virginia-based civil engineering firm specializing in the building of shopping malls, subdivisions and highways. He remained with Hurt & Proffitt from 1996-2005, while also pursuing a career in politics.

 

Bryan served on the Lynchburg City Council (1994-1995), and then ran for the Virginia House of Delegates as a Republican. He represented the city of Lynchburg and Amherst County from 1996-2006, when he joined the administration of Democratic Governor Timothy Kaine as secretary of natural resources. In this capacity, he oversaw the state’s environmental, recreational, wildlife and historic resources agencies.

 

In February 2010 Bryant joined the Richmond office of McGuireWoods Consulting as a senior vice president for economic and infrastructure development, working on issues that include water and wastewater facilities, conventional and renewable energy, and commercial and industrial development. The man Bryant replaced as chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, John Cogbill, also works for McGuireWoods.

 

His affiliations and memberships have included Central Virginia Community Services (board member, 1994-1995), Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy (board member, 1994-2000), Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education (1997-1999), National Kidney Foundation of Virginia, Inc. (board member, 1997-2001; vice president, 1999; president 2000-2001), Mental Health Association of Central Virginia (board member), Patrick Henry Boys & Girls Plantation, Inc. (board member) and chairman of the Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority (2007-2009)

 

For many years, Bryant taught literature courses during the summer at a local community college.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

L. Preston Bryant, Jr. (Virginia) (National Capital Planning Commission)

L. Preston Bryant Jr. Appointed to National Planning Commission (Randolph-Macon College)

Profile (Virginia House of Delegates)