John P. Hewitt made significant contributions to the preservation and enhancement of wildlife and natural environment. During his career he was the Executive Director of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Silver Springs, MD from 1971 to 1974. He joined the staff in 1946 as Administrative Assistant, and was appointed Administrative Aide to Vice Chairman and Park Commissioner in 1948. He assumed increased responsibilities and duties in management and supervision of programs and staff culminating in appointment as Director of Parks in 1957.  

Following his career the Commission, Hewitt was the Director, State of Maryland Energy Policy Office (1975-77), after which he served as the Coordinator for Blair Lee's campaign for Governor. In 1978 he became President, Frank L. Hewitt Company, and in 1992 he became a broker with John O. "Jack" Hewitt Real Estate Co..

He attended Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, North Carolina State University, and American University.

Hewitt was an Instructor with Revenue Resources School, North Carolina State University; a contributing author, international park and recreation professional journal Trends; Lecturer in the Great Lakes Park and Recreation Training Institute, sponsored by Indiana University; faculty member with the Southwest Park and Recreation Training Institute, Ardmore, Oklahoma; Consultant, Seminar on Stream Control, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia; and member, Editorial Board of Trends, an international park and recreation journal.

He received the Mr. Chairman Award, presented by the American Institute of Park Executives in recognition of his enthusiastic devotion to public service and outstanding leadership; was cited for excellence in the national award-winning book on urban planning, The Last Landscape by William H. Whyte; was given special recognition by the Izaak Walton League of America, Silver Spring Chapter, for outstanding accomplishment in the field of conservation; and was honored by the Maryland Recreation and Parks Society for outstanding service to and achievement for the Society on a local and national level.

He also received the The Charles G. Scott Award, presented by the Allied Civic Group for outstanding service to the civic development of the community; was the first recipient of the Stan Eckles Award for service to the Community, Church and Party; and received the Governor’s Citation, 1992, for outstanding contributions in the field of parks and recreation.

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