Major General Doran is currently the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. He most recently served as the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Vice Chief of Naval Research, and Executive Agent for USMC Science and Technology.
Born in Liverpool, England, Major General Doran graduated from Purdue University and was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1993. Upon completion of flight training, he was designated as an F/A-18 Hornet pilot.
Major General Doran’s command assignments include serving as the Commanding Officer of the “Thunderbolts” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, where the squadron won the Hanson award as the best Marine Fighter Attack Squadron. He also commanded Marine Aircraft Group ELEVEN (MAG-11) from July 2017 to July 2019.
His operational assignments include deployments with VMFA-251 and the “Red Devils” of VMFA-232, supporting Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN from the USS John F. Kennedy, USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Nimitz, and the final combat deployment of the USS ENTERPRISE. Major General Doran also served as the Assistant Wing Commander of 3d Marine Aircraft Wing and as the U.S. Senior National Representative to the Commander U.K. Carrier Strike Group for the inaugural deployment of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.
His staff and supporting establishment assignments include instructor duty at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), 3d MAW Joint Strike Fighter Subject Matter Expert, Tactical Aircraft Integration and Plans Officer for the Deputy Commandant of Aviation, Executive Officer at The Basic School and service on the Joint Staff J-8 as the USMC TACAIR Subject Matter Expert. Major General Doran also served as the Director of Strategy and Plans at HQMC Plans, Policies and Operations from 2022 to 2024.
Major General Doran is a graduate with distinction from both the Naval War College and the Air War College. He has accumulated over 4,500 hours in the F-18, F-16, and F-35, with more than 800 landings on nine different aircraft carriers.