Drawing upon expertise in military service, engineering and local government, Captain John R. Kirkland thrives as the mayor of River Bend, North Carolina, where he has been re-elected to his appointment several times. Pivoting his career into public service more than 25 years ago, he first served as a member of the River Bend Council in Craven County, North Carolina, before being voted into office as the town’s mayor. As part of his routine responsibilities, Mr. Kirkland presides over all town council meetings, represents River Bend in public affairs, liaises with various advisory boards and signs all legal documents.
Prior to accepting his terms as mayor, Mr. Kirkland served with the United States Coast Guard between 1955 and 1984, when he retired at the rank of captain. Notably, he spent more than three years aboard a destroyer-class ship at sea, including one year in Japan as a commanding officer and several weeks in the former Soviet Union and Ukraine. Congruent to his service in the Coast Guard, Mr. Kirkland was a facility manager for the Association of Plant Engineers between 1970 and 1974. After departing from the military, he also worked as a manager of the Electric Boat Division at General Dynamics between 1985 and 1995.
To prepare for his career, Mr. Kirkland pursued a formal education at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, receiving a Bachelor of Engineering in naval architecture and marine engineering in 1954. He subsequently attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and earned a Bachelor of Engineering in civil engineering in 1958. Outside of his primary endeavors, Mr. Kirkland has served as the vice chairperson of the Coastal Regional Solid Waste Management Authority and a volunteer with his local church.
As a testament to his success, Mr. Kirkland has been bestowed with several honors. Among these, he was honored with the Volunteer’s Award from The White House in 2023. Looking toward the future, Mr. Kirkland aims to continue serving as the mayor of River Bend to provide positive opportunities for the citizens of his area. Married to his wife Grace Caulk Kirkland for over 55 years, he is the proud father of five children. He also has nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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