About Donna

Donna McAleer is an inspirational speaker addressing the topics of leadership, role models, team building and boundary breaking. She is the award-winning author of Porcelain on Steel:  Women of West Point’s Long Gray Line. Donna has studied and practiced leadership for more than twenty years as a West Point graduate, U.S. Army officer, business leader, non-profit executive director, high school coach, and national bobsled team member.

West Point & Beyond

Donna graduated West Point in 1987 and served as an Army officer in a variety of leadership positions in Germany.  Donna left the service in 1991 to pursue a MBA at the Darden Graduate School of the University of Virginia and a career in the private sector.

In 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta appointed Donna to serve on the Defense Advisory Council for Women in the Service.  In 2012 and 2014, Donna was elected as the Democratic candidate for Utah’s 1st Congressional District.

Professional Life

Donna began working in corporate consulting and global logistics, with roles in public, private and non-profit corporations. She began her career with the Novations Consulting Group, later moving to Mercer Consulting Group. Donna then became Vice President of Global Logistics and Support Services at GenRad, a leading producer of electronic test equipment. At GenRad she was responsible for the development and implementation of a global logistics and customer support strategy.

In February 2000, Donna left the corporate world and moved to Park City, Utah to fulfill a lifelong dream. She pursued a unique opportunity—to represent the United States in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in the medal debut of Women’s Bobsled.  As a bobsled driver, she finished 4th in Olympic trials; she missed the Olympic team by only two spots.

After the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Donna dedicated her time to service in her community. She put her corporate experience and business acumen to use, becoming the Executive Director of the People’s Health Clinic, a non–profit organization based in Park City. Donna continued to pursue her passion for sports in her role as a high school and youth coach. Donna currently serves on the advisory council of the Women’s Business Institute at Salt Lake Community College.

Giving Back

Donna’s non-profit  work also includes Journeys Within Our Communities, an organization with whom she worked to assist a school and orphanage in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Donna helped provide resources and strategic guidance and served on the school’s first board of directors. She has also served on the board for a number of other non-profits, including BizWorld and the Park City Film Series.

Donna remains actively involved in the West Point community.  She serves as Class President and as an Admissions Field Representative.  Previously, she was elected to the West Point Association of Graduates Board of Directors, West Point Women’s Network, and as an advisor to www.West-Point.org. She is the only graduate who has served on all three alumni organization boards.

Family & The Outdoors

Donna is an avid outdoor enthusiast, with a particular passion for skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, hiking, golfing and traveling. She is a PSIA and ACE Level 2 ski instructor at Deer Valley Ski Resort in Park City, Utah and served on the Board of Directors of the Professional Ski Instructors of America – Intermountain Division.

Donna lives in the mountains of Park City, Utah with Carlyn Ann, her daughter, and Abby, their faithful four-legged companion.