Biographical/Introductory Remarks: Civilian Version


Major General (Retired) James E. Donald

Formerly--

  • Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army – Pacific
  • Commissioner, GA Department of Corrections
  • Chairman, GA Department of Pardons & Paroles
  • Special Assistant, Safety & Security, University System of Georgia


 Few have distinguished themselves as a leader with
a broad range of management and technical expertise at high levels of government and military
organizations as Major General James Edward Donald. He has earned the Bronze Star for his bold leadership as a Task Force Commander with the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles” during Gulf War I. His strategic successes as Deputy Commanding General U.S. Army Pacific and two tours of duty in the Pentagon are also noteworthy achievements. Upon his appointment as Commissioner of Corrections in December 2003, Governor Perdue described General Donald as “a results oriented manager who excels at leading people and building teams.”

General Donald was the driving force behind transformational changes in one of the State’s largest departments. As prisons chief, General Donald oversaw the fifth largest prison system in the nation, some 200,000 felons in prison or on probation; 15,000 employees, of which 10,000 were sworn peace officers; and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. He frequently reminded audiences of his firm commitment to the principle that the Department’s mission “to protect and serve is non-negotiable.”

General Donald’s commitment to Governor Perdue’s vision of a safer, healthier, better educated, and best- managed Georgia led to many groundbreaking initiatives. Under his leadership, the Department completed the first significant prison GDC Prison Master Plan in 20 years designed to determine how to more efficiently optimize its $2.3 billion infrastructure. Management and efficiency decisions that eliminated regional offices; reduced staff in the central office; realigned and combined many prison and probation support functions; and adopted new medical best practices. These decisions alone are estimated to have saved the Department’s budget $120 million over the period of his five-year tenure.


One of General Donald’s most significant accomplishments resulted in Governor Perdue’s decision to relocate the Corrections Headquarters and its Training Academy to the historic campus of Tift College in middle Georgia. The decision to move the Headquarters to central Georgia will save taxpayers $4 million annually and was an efficiency move that placed operations more central to the prison population that the Department was responsible for supervising. The Headquarters relocation from Atlanta to the Tift Campus in Forsyth involved up to 450 central office staff and was estimated to have had an annual payroll impact of $25 million in middle Georgia.

 Other accomplishments during his five years tenure were also noteworthy. Over 400 new residential substance abuse treatment beds were added to the Department, including the first state female Probation Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program at a State Prison. In November 2008, DOJ approved the first state Prison Industry Enhancement Work Program for Georgia. Twelve new Faith and Character- based dormitories were established and 15 full-time chaplains were added to state prisons affirming the Department’s commitment to rehabilitate inmates.  Six new 200-bed Pre-Release Centers and eight In-House Transition Centers were added across the state designed to better prepare ex-offenders for their transition back into the community and to stop the revolving door of recidivism.

Similarly, under his leadership the Department increased transition centers or “work release” beds from 1500 to 3000, doubling its capacity and supporting evidence-based research that confirmed the importance “meaningful work and having a suitable place to live” as essential to the successful rehabilitation of inmates. In addition to helping to create a “work ethic” in the ex-offender, the program required felons to pay room and board, taxes, victim restitution and child support at a rate of $10 million annually.

 Quoted in a Washington Post syndicated column, General Donald was most recognizable for his unique philosophical approach to the incarceration of felons: “If we’re afraid of them, if they continue to prey upon us and are unrepentant, lock them up! Indeed, throw away the key… But if we’re just mad at them, and they   are no longer a risk to the community, there are other alternatives that should be considered.” Following this approach, 11 new “non-resident” Day Reporting Centers were added to the corrections system in Georgia giving Judges more flexibility in handling over 1000 low-risk, mostly drug related felons annually. While relieving overcrowding and costing considerably less, early data indicated that this unique program reduced the “three-year return to prison rate” for graduates of the program to just under 7%, as compared to 27% for those leaving prisons.

In 2009, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed General Donald to a seven-year term on the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Subsequently, he was elected Chairman of the Parole Board for two consecutive terms by his colleagues. Georgia has a five-member board that is the sole authority for clemency in the State.

Most recently, General Donald served as Special Assistant, Safety and Security for the University System of Georgia where he led the development of a new Training Academy Curriculum for law enforcement officers assigned to the 30 Colleges and Universities in the State. In addition to the basic law   enforcement mandated training and Title IX requirements, the curriculum established new training guidelines for Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT), Fair and Impartial Community Policing and Community/Campus Team Approach for Sexual Assaults to address the most important contemporary issues facing safety and Security within the University System.


General Donald retired in January 2016 after 45 years in public service. He is a native of Jackson, Mississippi and a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History. He earned his Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Missouri. He is the 2010 recipient of the Mississippi Trailblazer Award honoring his outstanding achievement in the Military and Government. In 2012, he was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall Of Fame. He attends St. George Island United Methodist Church and is an avid supporter of community activities. He serves as a member of several philanthropic and civic boards

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Biographical/Introductory Remarks: Military Version                                                                                                                        





                                                                                                             James E. Donald, Major General
                                                                                                                       U.S. Army (Retired)

 

           


         

         

          Major General James E. Donald is a native of Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History and a commission as Second Lieutenant of Infantry.  He earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Missouri in 1983.

          Major General Donald retired from the Army as Deputy Chief of Staff/G1 at United States Army Forces Command.  He was responsible for the development, execution and supervision of programs, plans and policies that ensure individual/unit readiness and “well-being” for more than 770,000 active and reserve soldiers and more than 26,000 civilians.  Prior to that assignment, he served as Deputy Commanding General of United States Army Pacific in Hawaii.

          During his 33-year career, Major General Donald served in numerous key command and staff assignments.  His first troop assignment was as a rifle platoon leader with the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (Manchu) in Korea.  His next assignment was to Fort Benning, Georgia where he served as instructor in the Leadership Department, United States Army Infantry School.  He then served consecutive tours as a company commander at Fort Benning and in Germany.  He returned to the United States and later served in multiple assignments with the 101st Airborne Division (“Screaming Eagles”) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, including Inspector General, Battalion Executive Officer, Brigade Operations Officer/S-3, 2d Brigade, and Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment; a position he held through Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  After returning from the Gulf, he was assigned to the Pentagon on the Army Staff as the Chief, Forces Team, War Plans Division, prior to assuming command of 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.  In 1995 he was promoted to Brigadier General and served a joint assignment as Deputy Chief of Operations/J3, U.S. Pacific Command, and later as Assistant Division Commander, 25th Infantry Division (“Tropic Lightning”).


           The General’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with one Service Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kuwait liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Air Assault Badge.

            Upon his retirement in 2003, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed General Donald as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections where he served for five years.  In 2009, Governor Perdue appointed him to a seven-year term on the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles where he was elected to consecutive terms as Chairman.

            The General is a 2010 recipient of the Mississippi Trailblazer Award honoring his outstanding achievement in the Military and Government.  In 2012, he was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall Of Fame. He attends St. George Island United Methodist Church and is an avid supporter of community activities. He serves as a member of several philanthropic and civic boards.