Our fourth recipient, Lieutenant General Francis L. Donovan, completed the AMP in May 2013. Frank currently serves as Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command. He previously served as the Commanding General of the Second Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, NC, and Assistant Commanding General to the Joint Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, NC. Frank also completed a two-year tour in the Kingdom of Bahrain commanding Naval Amphibious Forces, Task Force 51 / 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade – known as Task Force 51/5. An infantry and reconnaissance officer, Frank has led Marines and Sailors in all three operational Marine Expeditionary Forces including commanding a Force Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing, and Marine Expeditionary Unit. Frank has served in combat, contingency, and expeditionary operations at sea, from the sea and ashore in Southwest Asia, the South Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, Northeast Africa, Central America, and the Western Pacific. Frank also led a Marine Corps Security Forces Detachment in Crete, Greece, a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) platoon, commanded a Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Eastern Pennsylvania, and was Director of the Expeditionary Warfare School. Additionally, he led the I Marine Expeditionary Force’s Special Operations Training Group – Special Missions Branch and was the executive officer for the Marine Corps Special Operations Command – Detachment One. Staff tours include service as the J35 at the United States Special Operations Command and Joint Staff, J5 Plans Directorate as Division Chief, Transregional Threats Coordination Cell. Frank holds a BA in Geography from Towson University, a Master of Military Studies from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Frank and his wife Kim, a former Naval officer, have two children.