John Bolen is the Officer in Charge at the Columbus Benefits Office (of the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs). He has served in this position since 1985. He is one of four employees, in Ohio, selected to work directly with families of service members who die while on active duty.
His VA career started in 1976 at the VA Regional Office-Cleveland, as a Claims Examiner and later as a Benefits Counselor. He has been part of a task group working with homeless veterans since 1997. Since 2001, he has been the Veterans Benefits Administration Coordinator, of outreach to homeless veterans for Ohio.
He served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1973 until his discharge in 1976 as a First Lieutenant. He is a native of Ohio and graduated from Miami University (in Ohio).