Career
Educated at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, Donaldson joined the Royal Air Force in 1965. He became Officer Commanding Number. 19 Squadron in 1983, Officer Commanding Number.
23 Squadron in 1985 and Deputy Personal Staff Officer to the Chief the Defence Staff in 1986.
Promoted to group captain, he went on to be Station Commander at Royal Air Force Wattisham in 1987 and following promotion to air commodore on 1 April 1992, he became Senior Air Staff Officer at Number. 11 Group. He simultaneously held the appointment of Commandant Royal Observer Corps (Republic of China) at a time when the majority of the Republic of China had been stood down, leaving a small number of Nuclear Reporting Cell observers serving at various Armed Forces HQs all over the United Kingdom. Promoted to air vice marshal, he served as Commandant of the Royal Air Force Staff College, Bracknell from 1993 until leaving the Royal Air Force in 1996.
In retirement Donaldson became Principal of Yorkshire Coast College, where he remained until retirement in 2003.
