Kirkland H. Donald

Infobox Military Person
name=Kirkland H. Donald
born=
died=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
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caption=Admiral Kirkland H. Donald
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears=1975-present
rank= Admiral
commands=Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion
unit=
battles=
awards=Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5)
relations=
laterwork=
Admiral Kirkland H. Donald, USN is the current Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion. He previously served as Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Commander, Submarine Allied Command, Atlantic. He assumed his current assignment on November 5, 2004.

Originally from Norlina, North Carolina, Admiral Donald graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1975 with a bachelor of science in ocean engineering. He also holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and is a graduate of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellows Program.

After completing his initial nuclear power and submarine training, he served on the "Batfish" (SSN 681), "Mariano G. Vallejo" (SSBN 658), and "Seahorse" (SSN 669).

Admiral Donald was Commanding Officer of the "Key West" (SSN 722), from October 1990 to February 1993. He served as Commander, Submarine Development Squadron Twelve from August 1995 to July 1997. From June 2002 to July 2003, he was assigned as Commander, Submarine Group Eight; Commander, Submarine Force Sixth Fleet (CTF 69); Commander, Submarines Allied Naval Forces South; and Commander, Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Force (CTF 164) in Naples, Italy. Most recently, he served as Commander, Naval Submarine Forces; Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Commander, Allied Submarine Command, Atlantic; and Commander, Task Forces 84 and 144 in Norfolk, Virginia.

His shore assignments include the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board and the staff of the Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion. He also served at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, on the Joint Staff, and as Deputy Chief of Staff for C4I, Resources, Requirements and Assessments, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Admiral Donald assumed his current duties as Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion, on 5 November 2004.

As reported on March 25, 2008, Admiral Donald was assigned by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to investigate nuclear missile fuses that were mistakenly sent to the island of Taiwan. [cite news
last = Baldor
first = Lolita C
title = Gates Orders Inventory of US Nukes
publisher = SFGate San Francisco Chronicle
date = 2008-03-27
url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/03/25/national/w074031D32.DTL
accessdate = 2008-06-05] Gates, when accepting the resignations of the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on June 5, 2008, cited the report's findings of a "a decline in the Air Force's nuclear mission focus and performance" and a "lack of a critical self-assessment culture" in the Air Force. [cite news
last = Burns
first = Robert
title = Gates accepts Air Force resignations in shake up
publisher = Associated Press
date = 2008-06-05
url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h14WATnIBZemE2UTr5Mm0UKRilowD91459301
accessdate = 2008-06-05] However, details of Adm Donald's specific report remain classified.

Awards and decorations

Admiral Donald's awards include:

ee also

References

* [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=96 Official Biography] ("This work is in the public domain.")
* [http://www.vancnews.com/articles/2007/01/22/warrenton/news/news02.txt VFW seeks financial assistance for Donald monument]
* [http://www.hendersondispatch.com/index.php?pSetup=hendersondailydispatch&curDate=20070909&pageToLoad=showFreeArticle.php&type=art&index=01 Henderson Daily Dispatch: Admiral Kirkland Donald honored with monument by Veterans of Foreign Wars]
* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/03/25/national/w074031D32.DTL Pentagon Admits Mistake in Arms Shipment]