DON DONALDSON
Commissioner
St. Lucie County
F.I.N.D. Appointment Date: March 26, 2015
Educational Background: Bachelor's Degree in Ocean Engineering, Florida Tech 1985, Postgraduate Studies in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering, Florida Atlantic University & University of Florida.
Professional Experience: Mr. Donaldson is a registered professional engineer and has over thirty years of experience in both the public sector fields of Civil & Coastal Engineering. Don started his career working for the US Army Corps of Engineers at the Coastal Engineering Research Center where assignments focused on coastal shore protection and harbor research projects. Work in the private sector was primarily with beach front properties, marina developments and stormwater management. Don is currently the Director of the Engineering Department and County Engineer for Martin County and has been is this position over seventeen years. He is responsible for many diverse programs that include; constructing/maintaining roads and drainage infrastructure, metropolitan planning, coastal beaches & inlet management, environmental lands & ecosystem restoration, public transit, survey & property management, traffic engineering, and mosquito control.
Professional and Community Affiliations, Activities and Certifications: Don serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association, appointed member on the Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative (Vice Chair 2014 to present), appointed member on the St. Lucie Rivers Issues Team and is a member of the Florida Engineering Society and other professional engineering organizations. In 2008, he served on the Florida Legislature General Appropriations Act working group for FY 2008-2009, in 2005 he served on Governor Jeb Bush's Coastal High Hazard Committee. Don was previously appointed FIND Commissioner for St. Lucie County in March of 2002.
Interests not Noted Above: Coastal and water resources issues, boating, offshore fishing, scuba diving, surfing, cooking and other hobbies for which there is not enough time to pursue!
Unique Story: Don went on an overnight fishing trip back in 1979 on a friend's 22-foot open fishing boat. The three friends journeyed offshore into the Gulf Stream east of Palm Beach. During the night, the misfortunate of an electrical failure caused them to become adrift. On the THIRD day afloat, a serendipitous encounter with a fishing vessel about 60 miles east of Ponce Inlet led to their rescue!
