MG. John A. Macdonald, USA (ret.)
John completed 33+ years of service to the Nation retiring on 31 AUG 2012. During his time in the Army, he served 17 years outside of the US. He led troops in combat in Grenada, Saudi Arabia and Iraq and most recently in Afghanistan. John was an attack helicopter aviator serving 5 years in the 82nd Airborne Division and 18th Airborne Corps, 10 years along the Demilitarized Zone in Korea, 6 years in Germany before, during and after the fall of the Iron Curtain and 10 years as a General Officer.
General Macdonald’s final two assignments were as US Deputy in Afghanistan with the primary mission to build the required bases for the expansion of 60,000 troops in 12 months including all aspects of life support, security, training, ranges, induction and departure. In Afghanistan he expanded his contracting, coordinating and negotiating ability to international money and processes, negotiated land rights with the Afghan government and created operating bases from Sand to Secure Sanctuaries. His last tour of duty was in Korea as the CJ3 Operations Officer for a Four Star, United Nations, Combined and Joint command where he is credited with significantly advancing the ROK US warfighting capability with creative exercises, tough negotiations and great team work in tense crisis situations; the north Korean sinking of the ROK Ship Cheonan and loss of 46 ROK sailors, north Korean shelling of Y-P Do killing four South Koreans and launch of a nK failed satellite attempt.
After Graduation from the Army, MG Macdonald was an independent consultant, focusing on War Gaming for DoD and other Government Agencies as well as automation efforts for sectors of the Army. He has provided motivational talks for Jiatong (Shanghai) University, Gannett News and Air War College. He and his wife Anne assisted in the Annual Ethics and Leadership Seminar for 45 High Schools and 200 Juniors in the Washington, DC metro area. Since February of 2018 he has been the Senior Adviser for the Land Forces Commander at Zayed Military City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
John graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1979. He holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island.
He is a Master Aviator, Master Parachutist and Ranger Qualified. He was awarded 2 Distinguished Service Medals and 38 other military decorations. John has served as a director on 7 boards associated with the Army, DoD and Easter Seals.
He is most happily married to BG (Ret) Anne Macdonald. They live in Abu Dhabi from which they travel, cook, golf, bike ride and powerboat.
