Lieutenant Colonel Dennis P. Donegan, Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel Dennis P. Donegan, Jr. was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry upon graduating Officer Candidate School in 1995 After enlisted service in the 2nd Infantry Division, 1st Ranger Battalion, 25th ID Long Range Surveillance Detachment (LRSD) and the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His first assignment as an officer was with the 1st Battalion, 508th Airborne Battalion Combat Team (ABCT) in Vicenza, Italy where he served as an Airborne Rifle Platoon Leader, Heavy Weapons Platoon Leader and the Battalion S-3 Air Officer.

Following the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and the Special Operations Detachment Officer Qualification Course, Lieutenant Colonel Donegan served with the 1st Battalion, 10th SFG (A) in Stuttgart, Germany as the Commander of Special Forces Operational Detachment-ALPHA 013 where he was responsible for bringing numerous personnel indicted for war crimes (PIFWC) to justice in Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR. Donegan also commanded what was called the “First Strike against Terrorism,” when he led his Detachment on a raid against known terrorists in Sarajevo which became known as the “Hollywood Hotel” raid. He also deployed his Detachment to Kosovo in support of Operation JOINT GUARD and as Commander of Troop IV with the Regional Commander's In-extremis Force (CIF).

Following this assignment he served as the Aide de Camp to Major General Eldon Bargewell, the Senior U.S. Military Advisor in the Netherlands and the J-3 at Allied Forces North; Brunssum, the Netherlands. Lieutenant Colonel Donegan then served with the 3rd Special Forces Group in Afghanistan and as the Executive Officer of B Co.,2nd BN,3rd SFG(A) in Iraq and also as the acting forward company commander where he was responsible for helping in the formation of the Iraqi Counter Terrorist Force (ICTF). Lieutenant Colonel Donegan then served as an Unconventional Warfare Instructor with the 1st Special Warfare Training Group and as the USASOC DCS, G-3 Range Branch Chief before being assigned to the 5th SFG(A) where he served as the first Commander of the newly formed Operations Detachment; Commander of the Group Support Company, Commander of the Group Support Battalion, and Commander of Bravo Company,4th Battalion. Lieutenant Colonel Donegan led Bravo Company on its inaugural combat deployment to Iraq where he served as the Commander of AOB-5420 at FOB Warrior in Kirkuk from January to September 2010. Lieutenant Colonel Donegan then served as the Lead Plans Officer for Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) Gulf Cooperation Council Operational Plan Team, where he led a Survey and Assessment Team into Cairo, Egypt, during the early stages of the “Arab Uprising" and served as the SOCCENT LNO to JSOC.

Lieutenant Colonel Donegan ended his esteemed military career detailed to the Department of State where he served as the Senior Special Operations Coordinator, Senior Advisor and focal point between Diplomatic Security and DoD specialized military units that support Diplomatic Security operations overseas on all operational and training matters. For his exemplary service at the Department of State, Lieutenant Colonel Donegan was awarded the State Department Superior Honor Award.

His military education and training includes the U.S. Army Ranger School, U.S. Army Jumpmaster School, Advanced International Morse Code, Special Forces Communication Sergeant Course, Defense Language Institute (Spanish), Special Forces Combat Diver Course, U.S. Army Officer Candidate School, U.S. Army Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Special Operations Detachment Officer Qualification Course, Survival, Evade, Resist and Escape (High Risk) Course, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Target Analysis and Exploitation Techniques Course, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Joint Officer Planning Course and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

LTC Donegan's awards and decorations include The Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal w/ OLC, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/ OLC, Joint Service Commendation Medal w/ OLC, Army Commendation Medal with Valor "V" Device and 6 OLCs, Joint Service Achievement Medal w/ OLC, Army Achievement Medal w/ 4 OLCs, Good Conduct Medal w/ 3
knots, National Defense Service Medal w/ bronze service star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ bronze campaign star, Kosovo