Don graduated Pensacola High School with a football scholarship to the University of Florida, Gainesville, 1957 -1962. He was a starting-lineman (#66) for the "Gators" from 1958 -1960. During college he was a member of social fraternity - Sigma Alpha Epsilon and graduated U. of FL, with an honors degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1962. He later earned his Masters Degree from the University of Florida in 1967. After graduating, Don went to work for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, a division of United Technologies. His professional engineering association memberships include A.S.M.E. (Palm Beach Chapter President 1966-1968), Sigma Tau and Tau Beta Phi. His professional accomplishments include:
Participation in the design of the 1st high pressure (3000psi) rocket engine 10TR -1963. Participated in the design of the coolant system for the extendable nozzle - XLR-129. He participated in the design of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) demonstrator engine. He participated in the advanced design of an improved nozzle system for the F-100 advance jet engine for military aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon. Don also participated in (and received cost reduction award for) the design of an improved, low cost, inner fan duct liner for the F100 in 1976. Later in his career, Don participated in the design of a high intensity, cooled primary laser mirror while working with Optics & Applied Technologies Laboratories (OATL, div. of UTC).