Don proudly served his country, enlisting in the United States Navy on June 27, 1964. He spent ten years serving in the US Navy traveling to many destinations such as Great Lakes, IL; Argentia, Newfoundland; San Francisco, CA; Norfolk, VA; Manila, Philippines; Yokosuka, Japan; Hong Kong, China. From 1969 to 1970, Donald served aboard the USS Biddle DLG-34 in the Gulf of Tonkin off North Vietnam. He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation. From 1971-74, he served at the US Submarine base in Groton CT as the supervisor of the base electronics shop.

Following his discharge from the US Navy on June 21, 1974, Donald continued his military career and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard on June 25, 1974. In the summer of 1977, Donald sailed as a supplemental crewmember, serving as the electronics technician and the master-at-arms, aboard the Coast Guard Bark Eagle during the cadet training cruise across the Atlantic to London, England, and Hamburg, Germany where the ship was originally built by the German navy. He attained the rank of CPO (E7) in Apr of 1978. His Coast Guard career also took him to many other destinations as a LORAN-C technician, including Iwo Jima, Japan, as well as stateside in Connecticut, Florida, and Washington DC. Donald was honorably discharged and retired from the United States Coast Guard on August 1, 1986 with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer (E8) after 22 years of continuous active service. In the Coast Guard, he earned the CG Achievement medal, the CG Letter of Commendation ribbon, the CG Unit Commendation ribbon, and the CG Restricted Duty ribbon.

During his time in the military, Donald was employed as an Electronic Technician until he retired. Following his retirement from the military he continued his career as Quality Assurance Inspector for defense contractors including Textron Inc., Hybricon Inc., and Curtiss Wright Inc. Retiring in 2013.