About Kenneth McDonald, PE

Kenneth William McDonald of West Point, New York, professor of engineering management at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, earned a master’s degree in engineering mechanics and a Ph.D. in geological engineering, both from Missouri S&T. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the United States Military Academy as well as master’s degrees in character education, Christian ethics, geography, and city and regional planning, and an MBA in information systems. After graduation, McDonald began a 28-year Army career deployed to combat zones including Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Notable assignments include deputy commander and chief of staff for the New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; deputy commander and provincial liaison of the South District, Gulf Region in Basrah, Iraq; and deputy commander of base operations for the 19th Theater Support Command in South Korea. McDonald served at the Army Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood, directed the Center for Nation Reconstruction and Capacity Development and was a military academy deputy department head. He studies capacity development, planning and consequence management, and engineering ethics and has brought in over $1 million in research, published over 70 technical articles and reports, given over 20 conference presentations, and written or edited 10 books or books chapters. He was a commissioner for the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission and an executive board member for the Society of American Military Engineers and the American Society for Engineering Management. His honors include Fulbright Scholar/Specialist, National Society of Professional Engineers Federal Engineer of the Year, David E. Grange Best Ranger Competition – Best Team, Federal Executive Board Award for Valor.   McDonald and his wife, Col. Deborah J. McDonald, have two children also in the military, Maj. Anna E. Mendoza and Capt. Joshua G. McDonald.