One year ago today, USAF Col. Pete ‘Dude’ Donnelly (ret.) after a hard-fought battle with cancer… three separate cancers, actually.
Pete served more than three decades in uniform, beginning as a B-52 navigator and ultimately leading as a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) commander across the 20th ASOS, 14th ASOG, and 18th ASOG.
He deployed time and time again in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the initial invasion in 2003 through the surge years of 2007–2008. Yet when asked, Pete would tell you his proudest contribution came during Operation Anaconda in 2002, a defining moment that reflected the kind of leader and warfighter he was.
After retiring in December 2014, Pete didn’t slow down. He continued serving in a different capacity through his work at Leidos, while also founding A15 Publishing, creating a space for veterans to process, heal, and tell their stories.
He understood war in a way few ever will, both from the air and on the ground… and he knew that the fight doesn’t always end when the uniform comes off.
But, despite reaching the rank of Colonel, Pete never cared much for titles. What mattered to him was simple, direct, and powerful:
➡️ “What did you actually do for your people?”
That was the standard he lived by 🇺🇸
If you have the time, listen to his conversations with one of his TACPs and HunterSeven board member,
@jtarticle15 , on the BRCC podcast (Episodes 33 and 58). His words carry a calming weight: honest, grounded, and deeply human.
Today… and every day, we honor him and all those who have stood in the arena, carried the burden, and put their lives on the line for this country.
Forever grateful, Dude 🇺🇸⚔️
