Col. William C. McDonald is the Commander, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. He is responsible for the combined C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17A Globemaster III wing providing worldwide movement of high-priority personnel and cargo. Dover AFB is also home to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, the Department of Defense’s largest aerial port, and the Air Mobility Command Museum.
Colonel McDonald received his commission from the ROTC at Charleston Southern University in 2000, and completed Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. He has deployed to the Middle East and Southeast Asia on numerous occasions in support of operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve. He commanded the 8th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and has served in a variety of staff positions at AMC, Headquarters Air Force and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Prior to this assignment, Colonel McDonald was the Vice Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, JB Andrews, Maryland. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in the C-5A/B/C, C-17A, C-40, T-1A and T-37B.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts in English, Charleston Southern University, Charleston, S.C.
2005 Squadron Officer School (Top-Third Graduate), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Science in National Security, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Naval Command and Staff College (with Honors), Newport, R.I.
2019 National War College, Washington, D.C.
2021 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Fellow
ASSIGNMENTS
July 2000 – January 2001, Squadron Programmer, 334th Fighter Training Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
January 2001 – February 2002, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Student, 14th Operational Support Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
August 2002 – August 2006, C-5 Aircraft Commander, 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
June 2006 – April 2010, C-17A Evaluator Aircraft Commander and Wing Executive Officer, 7th Airlift Squadron and 62d Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, Wash.
April 2010 – July 2011, Chief, Rated Squadron Commander Assignments and Deputy Chief, Officer and Civilian Development, Headquarters AMC, Scott AFB, Ill.
July 2011 – July 2012, Special Action Officer, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters AMC, Scott AFB, Ill.
July 2012 – July 2013, Executive Officer to the AMC Vice Commander, Headquarters AMC, Scott AFB, Ill.
July 2013 – July 2014, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
August 2014 – August 2016, Commander, 8th Airlift Squadron, JB Lewis-McChord, Wash.
August 2016 – August 2018, Chief, Rated Force Policy, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
August 2018 – July 2019, Student, National War College, Washington, D.C.
June 2019 – July 2020, Iraq Country Director, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Middle East Policy, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
July 2020 – May 2021, Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
June 2021 – Jul 2023, Vice Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, JB Andrews, Md.
July 2023 – present, Commander, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: Over 4,000
Aircraft Flown: T-37B, T-1A, C-5A/B/C, C-17A, C-40
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
Iraqi Campaign Medal with four stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 19, 2000
First Lieutenant June 19, 2002
Captain June 19, 2004
Major June 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2015
Colonel Jan. 1, 2021
(Current as of July 2023)