Senior Chief Petty Officer Eric M. Donahue ’00, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Served over 20 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL, rising to the elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL Team Six) and completing eight combat deployments.

From Austin Prep to the Navy’s Elite

A native of Andover, Massachusetts, and a proud 2000 graduate of Austin Prep, Eric Donahue carried forward the school’s emphasis on leadership, discipline, and service into a remarkable military career. Reflecting on his early years, he shares that he did not fully recognize the school’s influence until long after graduation. As he puts it, “I did not appreciate the influence Austin had on me until many years after graduation. As a young adult I think it can be hard to appreciate what you have in life and I was no exception. Looking back I can see that the teachers and coaches at Austin gave me the perfect amount of attention and support that I needed at that point in my development.”

He also credits a key mentor for shaping qualities that would later define his service as a SEAL. “Specifically, Coach Maradei had a massive positive affect on my life. He challenged me to overcome physical limitations with mental strength, a key tenet of special warfare groups worldwide.”

After earning his degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2004, Donahue enlisted in the U.S. Navy later that year and completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training with Class 257 in Coronado, California, earning his SEAL Trident in 2006. He was first assigned to SEAL Team Eight at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia, where he deployed multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Service with SEAL Team Six

In 2012, Donahue was selected for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, known as SEAL Team Six, where he would spend the remainder of his career. As an Assault Team Member and Squadron Air Operations Lead, he completed several deployments in support of operations in Afghanistan, North Africa, and East Africa. He later served as an instructor with the Selection, Training, Education, and Programs division, mentoring and training the next generation of Development Group SEALs in assault and air operations.

Leadership, Family, and Legacy

After multiple successful tours as an Assault Team Leader, Donahue was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2022. He retired from the Navy in early 2025 after completing 20 years of distinguished service.

Returning to Austin Prep became an important full-circle moment in his life and career. “When I think of Austin now I remember the close friends I made there and the opportunity I had to come back in 2023 and teach about leadership to the up-and-coming leaders in the school. Four of my classmates at Austin attended my retirement from the Navy that took place almost 25 years after we graduated from high school. I am very grateful for those friends and for how they supported me throughout my career and many deployments.”

He adds, “I have fond memories of being invited to teach at the Unitas Leadership Academy. Returning to the school after so many years was both meaningful and rewarding, and it was a privilege to share my experiences and insights with such promising future leaders.”

Throughout his career, Donahue earned numerous personal and unit commendations for valor and leadership. He and his wife, Katie, are the proud parents of three children, Meredith, Tyler, and Ivy, and continue to embody the values of dedication, honor, and service both within and beyond military life.

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