Kirkland Hogue Donald

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Kirkland Hogue Donald was born on 15 September 1953 in Norlina, NC. Donald graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He also holds an MBA 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 USS Batfish (SSN-681), USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658), and USS Seahorse (SSN-669).

Donald was Commanding Officer of the USS 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, VA.

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.

Donald assumed duties as Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, on 5 November 2004. On 1 January 2005 Donald was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral. His appointment as Director is both a military and civilian position as he is the head of both Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (Department of the Navy) and Naval Reactors (Department of Energy).

On 25 March 2008, Donald was assigned by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to investigate nuclear missile fuses that were mistakenly sent to the island of Taiwan. Gates, when accepting the resignations of both Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Chief of Staff of the Air Force General T. Michael Moseley on 5 June 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. However, details of Admiral Donald's specific report remain classified.

Admiral Donald was relieved as Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion by Admiral John M. Richardson, on 3 November 2012 and retired from the Navy.

Medals and Awards

Submarine Warfare

Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit (5 Awards)

Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards)

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 Awards)

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 Awards)

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Navy Unit Commendation (2 Awards)

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 Awards)

Battle "E" with 2 "E"s

Navy Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Medal

National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star

Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

Navy Arctic Service Ribbon

NavyExpert Rifleman Medal

Navy Expert Pistol Medal

Badges

Submarine Warfare Officer Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge