SOWF Ambassadors
Colonel Don Plater, USA Retired
Don Plater began his career in the U.S. Army upon graduation from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1973, as a Distinguished Military Graduate, and retired in 2003 as a Colonel.
He commanded at the battery, battalion, squadron and brigade levels. He served in multiple locations around the globe leading soldiers and civilians in ever increasing levels of responsibility and scope including serving in three Army divisions: the 8th Infantry Division, West Germany; twice in the 82d Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC; and in the 2d Infantry Division, Republic of Korea. He began his special operations journey in 5th Special Forces Group (ABN), Ft. Bragg, NC, in 1983. During the next 20 years he served in both SOF and conventional units to include the Army’s Intelligence and Security Command, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and the Joint Special Operations Command.
He commanded the 528th Special Operations Support Battalion (ABN) and the Support Squadron in USASOC. He then commanded the Material Support Center-Korea, ROK. His final assignment was as the Staff Group Chief and Executive Officer to the G-4 of the U.S. Army in the Pentagon.
Prior to becoming an Army civilian, he was a research fellow for a consulting firm. As a civilian, Don Plater held progressively more responsible positions in the areas of personnel development, logistics readiness, financial strategy, strategic investments, programming and integration, innovation, and strategy. Key civil service and Senior Executive Service assignments for the next 20 years were the Deputy Director, Strategy and Integration, Army G-4, Pentagon; Assistant Chief of Staff, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC; Executive Director, Joint Special Operations Command. His last assignment before retiring in 2024 was the Executive Director, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, FL, culminating over 20 years in federal civil service.
Besides the numerous Army schools he completed, he graduated from the U.S. Marine Corps Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He also completed multiple courses as a civilian to include the Harvard Senior Executives Fellowship program.
His wife Sharon has shared every step of this journey for over 51 years.
His mantra continues to be I only pass this way once; what am I doing today to enable others and organizations to be better tomorrow.
