Michael B. Donley
Encyclopedia
Michael Bruce Donley is the 22nd Secretary of the United States Air Force. Donley has 30 years of experience in the national security community, including service on the staff of the United States Senate
, White House
and The Pentagon
. Prior to assuming his current position, Donley served as the Director of Administration and Management
in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
.
, California
. He earned his B.A.
(1977) and M.A.
(1978) in international relations
from the University of Southern California
. He also attended the Program for Senior Executives in National Security at Harvard University
.
Donley served in the United States Army
(1972–1975). He attended the Army’s Intelligence School (1972), Airborne school
(1974), and Defense Language Institute
(1973). He served in the 18th Airborne Corps and 5th Special Forces Group.
in 1978 and part of 1979. He was a Legislative Assistant in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1981, and then a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1981 to 1984.
Donley served as director of defense programs and Deputy Executive Secretary at the National Security Council
from 1984 through 1989. As Deputy Executive Secretary, he oversaw the White House Situation Room
and chaired interagency committees on crisis management
procedures and continuity of government
. Earlier, as Director of Defense Programs, Mr. Donley was the NSC representative to the Defense Resources Board, and coordinated the President's quarterly meetings with the Joint Chiefs of Staff
. He conceived and organized the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management (the Packard Commission)
, coordinated White House policy on the Goldwater-Nichols DOD Reorganization Act of 1986, and wrote the National Security Strategy for President Ronald Reagan
's second term.
In 1989, Donley was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller). In this position, he was responsible for preparing the Air Force
budget, cost estimating of weapon systems, economic analysis, and providing financial services to all Air Force personnel. He served as Assistant Secretary until 1993, when he became Acting Secretary of the Air Force. Donley served as Acting Secretary for seven months until July 1993.
After leaving the Air Force, Donley became a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses
. He stayed at the Institute until 1996 when he became a Senior Vice President at Hicks and Associates, Inc., a division of Science Applications International Corporation
(SAIC). While there, he served as a Special Advisor to the United States Department of State
for affairs in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
On 9 May 2005, United States Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld
appointed Donley Director of Administration and Management. In this position, he oversees 1,300 employees who provide administrative and support services to the Department of Defense's Washington headquarters which includes The Pentagon
. He was responsible for the $5.5 billion Pentagon Renovation and Construction Program.
On 9 June 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates recommended that President George W. Bush
nominate Donley to become Secretary of the Air Force. Gates also announced Donley would become acting Secretary of the Air Force effective 21 June 2008. The United States Senate
confirmed his nomination as the 22nd Secretary of the Air Force on 2 October 2008.
As secretary, Donley is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 300,000 men and women on active duty
, 180,000 members of the Air National Guard
and the Air Force Reserve, 160,000 civilians, and their families. He also oversees the Air Force's annual budget of approximately $110 billion.
On 13 April 2009, Donley and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Norton A. Schwartz
jointly published an opinion piece in the Washington Post supporting Secretary Gates's decision to close out production of the F-22 Raptor
. Donley stated the "requirements for fighter inventories have declined and F-22 program costs have risen."
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
and The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
. Prior to assuming his current position, Donley served as the Director of Administration and Management
Director of Administration and Management (DoD)
The Director of Administration and Management, or DA&M, is a position within the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Department of Defense...
in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
The Office of the Secretary of Defense is a headquarters-level staff of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. It is the principal civilian staff element of the Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department...
.
Early life
Donley was born in NovatoNovato, California
Novato is a city located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, in northern Marin County. Novato is located about north-northwest of San Rafael, at an elevation of 30 feet above sea level . The 2010 U.S. Census estimated the city population to be about 51,904. Novato is about ...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He earned his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(1977) and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(1978) in international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He also attended the Program for Senior Executives in National Security at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Donley served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(1972–1975). He attended the Army’s Intelligence School (1972), Airborne school
United States Army Airborne School
The United States Army Airborne School — widely known as Jump School — conducts the basic paratrooper training for the United States armed forces. It is operated by the 1st Battalion , 507th Infantry, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia...
(1974), and Defense Language Institute
Defense Language Institute
The Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
(1973). He served in the 18th Airborne Corps and 5th Special Forces Group.
Public service
Donley was editor of the National Security Record for the Heritage FoundationHeritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative American think tank based in Washington, D.C. Heritage's stated mission is to "formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong...
in 1978 and part of 1979. He was a Legislative Assistant in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1981, and then a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1981 to 1984.
Donley served as director of defense programs and Deputy Executive Secretary at the National Security Council
United States National Security Council
The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
from 1984 through 1989. As Deputy Executive Secretary, he oversaw the White House Situation Room
White House Situation Room
The White House Situation Room is a conference room and intelligence management center in the basement of the West Wing of the White House. It is run by the National Security Council staff for the use of the President of the United States and his advisors to monitor and deal...
and chaired interagency committees on crisis management
Crisis management
Crisis management is the process by which an organization deals with a major event that threatens to harm the organization, its stakeholders, or the general public. The study of crisis management originated with the large scale industrial and environmental disasters in the 1980's.Shrivastava, P....
procedures and continuity of government
Continuity of government
Continuity of government is the principle of establishing defined procedures that allow a government to continue its essential operations in case of nuclear war or other catastrophic event....
. Earlier, as Director of Defense Programs, Mr. Donley was the NSC representative to the Defense Resources Board, and coordinated the President's quarterly meetings with the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
. He conceived and organized the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management (the Packard Commission)
The Packard Commission
The President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management also known as the Packard Commission was a federal government commission by President Ronald Reagan, created by Executive Order 12526 to study several areas of management functionality within the Department of Defense of the United States...
, coordinated White House policy on the Goldwater-Nichols DOD Reorganization Act of 1986, and wrote the National Security Strategy for President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's second term.
In 1989, Donley was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller). In this position, he was responsible for preparing the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
budget, cost estimating of weapon systems, economic analysis, and providing financial services to all Air Force personnel. He served as Assistant Secretary until 1993, when he became Acting Secretary of the Air Force. Donley served as Acting Secretary for seven months until July 1993.
After leaving the Air Force, Donley became a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses
Institute for Defense Analyses
The Institute for Defense Analyses is a non-profit corporation that administers three federally funded research and development centers to assist the United States government in addressing important national security issues, particularly those requiring scientific and technical expertise...
. He stayed at the Institute until 1996 when he became a Senior Vice President at Hicks and Associates, Inc., a division of Science Applications International Corporation
Science Applications International Corporation
SAIC is a FORTUNE 500 scientific, engineering and technology applications company headquartered in the United States with numerous federal, state, and private sector clients...
(SAIC). While there, he served as a Special Advisor to the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
for affairs in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
On 9 May 2005, United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
appointed Donley Director of Administration and Management. In this position, he oversees 1,300 employees who provide administrative and support services to the Department of Defense's Washington headquarters which includes The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
. He was responsible for the $5.5 billion Pentagon Renovation and Construction Program.
Secretary of the Air Force
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
nominate Donley to become Secretary of the Air Force. Gates also announced Donley would become acting Secretary of the Air Force effective 21 June 2008. The United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
confirmed his nomination as the 22nd Secretary of the Air Force on 2 October 2008.
As secretary, Donley is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 300,000 men and women on active duty
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, 180,000 members of the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
and the Air Force Reserve, 160,000 civilians, and their families. He also oversees the Air Force's annual budget of approximately $110 billion.
On 13 April 2009, Donley and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Norton A. Schwartz
Norton A. Schwartz
Norton Allan Schwartz is a United States Air Force general who is serving as the 19th Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He previously served as Commander, United States Transportation Command from September 2005 to August 2008...
jointly published an opinion piece in the Washington Post supporting Secretary Gates's decision to close out production of the F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
. Donley stated the "requirements for fighter inventories have declined and F-22 program costs have risen."
Education
- 1972 U.S. Army Intelligence School, Fort HuachucaFort HuachucaFort Huachuca is a United States Army installation under the command of the United States Army Installation Management Command. It is located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about north of the border with Mexico. Beginning in 1913, for 20 years the fort was the base for the "Buffalo...
, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix... - 1973 Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- 1974 U.S. Army Airborne School, Fort BenningFort BenningFort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... - 1977 Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations, University of Southern California, Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
- 1978 Master of Arts degree in international relations, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
- 1986 Senior Executives in National Security program, John F. Kennedy School of GovernmentJohn F. Kennedy School of GovernmentThe John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
, Harvard University, Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, MassachusettsCambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
Career chronology
- 1972 - 1975, U.S. Army, XVIIIth Airborne Corps and 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North CarolinaFort Bragg, North CarolinaFort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
- 1978 - 1979, Editor, National Security Record, Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
- 1979 - 1981, Legislative Assistant, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
- 1981 - 1984, Professional Staff Member, Senate Armed Services Committee, Washington, D.C.
- 1984 - 1987, Director of Defense Programs, National Security Council, The White House, Washington, D.C.
- 1987 - 1989, Deputy Executive Secretary, National Security Council, the White House, Washington, D.C.
- 1989 - 1993, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller), Washington, D.C.
- 1993, Acting Secretary of the Air Force, Washington D.C.
- 1993 - 1996, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Va.
- 1996 - 2005, Senior Vice President at Hicks and Associates, Inc. (a subsidiary of SAIC) McLean, VirginiaMcLean, VirginiaMcLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
- 2005 - 2008, Director of Administration and Management, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
- 2008 – present, Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.