John P. Holland

Born on January 16th, 1925, Mr. John P. Holland enlisted in the Navy’s V-12 training program at Tufts University in 1943, following his high school graduation. Later, he was offered a place in the Harvard University ROTC program, which he declined after receiving a Senatorial appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1944. Mr. Holland was commissioned as an Ensign, USN in 1947 as a midshipman, completing his studies at the Naval Academy in three years.

John met his future wife, Peggy Delaney, while she was a senior at the College of Notre Dame, during a blind date at the 50-yard line of Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, following an Army-Navy football game. The couple married two years later and have now been married for 70 years. They had six children and moved across the country nineteen times during John's naval career.

Mr. Holland's 28-year naval career included sea service aboard a destroyer, five submarines, and a submarine supply repair ship. He served as the commanding officer of his last submarine, the USS Halfbeak (SS-352).  His ship received the Battle Effectiveness Award, also known as the Battle "E" award, which is presented to U.S. Navy submarines that demonstrate the highest level of battle readiness. Shore duty included assignments with the staffs of the Commander of Anti-Submarine Forces, Atlantic Division (Norfolk, VA), and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Pentagon). Mr. Holland retired from the Navy in 1971 with the rank of captain.

John joined the Capital Budget Division of the Maryland Planning Department after his service. After 16 years as a state employee in the Planning Department, he resigned from his position as the Assistant Director of the Capital Budget Division.