Rear Admiral Thomas Donovan is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia. He graduated the United States Naval Academy in 1996 and earned a Master’s in Defense Analysis from the Naval Post Graduate School. He began his career as a SEAL after completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training class 208 in 1996.

His operational assignments include duty as Assistant Platoon and Platoon Commander with SEAL Team THREE. At Naval Special Warfare Development Group, he served as both a mobility and assault troop commander at Naval Special Warfare Tactical and Development Squadron FOUR. He served Executive Officer and Plank Owner of TACDEVRON FIVE and Commander of TACDEVRON TWO. He served as Deputy Commander and later as Commanding Officer, Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

His staff duty assignments include service as the United States Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs Directorate, Washington D.C. and Naval Special Warfare Officer Detailer in Millington, Tennessee. He served as Deputy Operations Officer and Operations Officer at the Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg North Carolina. From 2021 to 2023, he served as the Executive Officer to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff. RDML Donovan currently serves on the Joint Staff as Deputy Director for Global Operations.

Last Updated: 22 January 2024