Patrick Donahoe

Major General (Retired) Patrick J. Donahoe possesses a distinguished military career encapsulating service in the continental U.S., Afghanistan, Bosnia, Germany, Iraq, Korea, and Kuwait from 1989 to 2022. He served as Commanding General of Fort Benning’s Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) in Columbus, GA from 2020-2022. His tenure was notable for his defense of women in the military as well as directing operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Donahoe was born on July 19, 1967, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He began his military service by commissioning in May 1989 through the Army ROTC at Villanova University where he received his BA in History. He later obtained an MA in Military Studies from American Military University and a Masters of National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He is also a graduate of the Senior Service College Fellowship at Harvard University. Since 2024 he has served as the Chief Operating Officer at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA where he resides with his wife, Theresa, of 25 years with whom he has three daughters, Peyton, Brenna, and Delaney.

Military Service Summary:

His time in the U.S. Army spans over three decades. After his commission, he completed Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, KY and Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA in 1989. From 1989-1991 he served as a Tank Platoon Leader and Battalion Support Platoon Leader for the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment in the Republic of Korea. At Fort Knox he served as a Troop Executive Officer with the D Troop, 5th Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment (1991-1992), and as Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier General Rip Roper for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (1992-1993). While stationed in Germany, Donahoe served as a Staff Officer, G-3 at the V Corps Headquarters (1994-1995). As an Assistant S-3, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, he was deployed to Bosnia in 1996. From 1997-1998 he returned to Germany as the Troop Commander for the Apache Troops. From 2001-2002 he served in the 1st Battalion, 34th Amor Regiment in the Intrinsic Action Taskforce that was deployed to Kuwait in 2001. His other roles included Brigade S-3 in the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, KS; Instructor at the Naval War College (2003-2005); and Battalion Commander for the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, TX where he was deployed to Iraq from 2005-2006.

His career featured senior leadership positions including: leader of the Scorpion and Bronco Training Teams at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California (2007-2009); Commander of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, 1st Army (2010-2012) at Fort Knox, KY; Senior NATO Advisor to General Sher Mohammed Karimi, the Chief of the General Staff of the Afghan National Army (2012-2013); Director of Training and Doctrine at Fort Benning, GA; Acting Senior Commander of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY (2017-2018); and Deputy Commanding General of the Eight Army at Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea (2018-2020). On December 9, 2022, he officially retired with the rank of Major General. His decorations and honors include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Korean Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal (Balkans and ISAF clasps), Parachutist Badge, and Combat Action Badge.