Colonel Donald D. Loftis was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, Class 2-69, 25 January 1969. His first duty assignment was as a Tactical Officer, Infantry Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Company Executive Officer, Infantry Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia; Battalion Senior Advisor, 25th Division (Army of Vietnam), Vietnam; Plans Training Advisor, 25th Division (Army of Vietnam), Vietnam; Division Instructor and Assistant Operations Officer, Army Air Defense School, Fort Bliss, Texas; Battalion S-2, 3rd Battalion, 6th Infantry, Berlin, Germany; Company Commander, A Company, 3d Battalion, 6th Infantry, Berlin, Germany; Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) Project Officer, U.S. Army Training Support Center, Fort Eustis, Virginia; Research and Development Coordinator, Army Research Institute, Monterey, California; Battalion Operations Officer and Battalion Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry, Korea; Senior Test Officer, U.S. Army Development and Employment Agency, Fort Lewis, Washington; Battalion Commander, 4th Battalion, 23d Infantry, 9th Division, Fort Lewis, Washington; Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne), Fort Chaffee, Arkansas; Commander, U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Arizona; Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. | Colonel Loftis served as Vice President and Project Director for the BDM Management Services Company Mission Support Contract for the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, Louisiana, following his retirement. He was also the Chapter President of the Leonidas Polk Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).