Nolen Bivens advocates for the arts to help service members and veterans suffering the invisible wounds of war. He is Chair of the Leadership Advisory Council for the National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military at Americans for the Arts. He is the senior military community engagement advisor for Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network, which serves the needs of military patients who have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychological health conditions. As an Arts & Military Senior Policy Fellow for American for the Arts, Nolen has testified before U.S. Congress and various State Legislatures. He also has advised such creative endeavors as “Healing Wars” a theatrical dance production; PBS’s Crafts in America - “Service” episode; and the Smithsonian Institution’s Haiti Cultural Recovery Project.

Nolen is a former U.S. Army General whose 32 years of service as an Infantry officer include: Chief of Staff, U.S. Southern Command; Deputy Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division; C3 Coalition Forces Land Component Command & U.S. Third Army; Deputy Director Regional Infrastructure CJTF-7 Baghdad Iraq, and various headquarters, senior staff positions with U.S. Joint, Army, and Special Operations Commands. Currently, Nolen is President of Leader Six, management consulting, and business services and products company based in the Washington, DC area.