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Outstanding Alumni - 2005

Colonel Patrick Donahue

Bemidji State University Graduate 1972

After graduating from high school in International Falls, MN, Mr. Donahue enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served three years in Vietnam.  Following his honorable discharge from the military, Mr. Donahue entered Bemidji State College and received a Bachelor of Science degree in social studies.  Following commencement in 1972, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Marines and served in a variety of command and staff assignments throughout his 37 year career, including Commanding Officer 9th Marine Corps Recruiting District, Kansas City MO., Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Professor of Naval Science at the University of Nebraska and as Chief of Staff Marine Corps Eastern Recruiting region/Recruit Training Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.  Mr. Donahue retired from the Marine Corps in 2003 and received an appointment from the Secretary of the Navy as the Deputy Commander of Navy Recruiting Command, Millington, Tennessee, the military equivalent of a two star Admiral position.  As the Deputy for Navy Recruiting he co-directs more than 7900 recruiting personnel around the world and has personal responsibility for supervising a budget of over $400 million per year.  Mr. Donahue has also earned a master's degree in Military Arts and Sciences from the Advanced Operational Studies Fellowship, Leavenworth, Kansas and is a graduate of the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and U.S. Army Advanced Operations Studies Fellowship.  Throughout his military career, Mr. Donahue has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.  Mr. Donahue and his wife, Patty, currently make their home in Arlington, Tennessee.