Kenneth W. McDonald

Kenneth W. McDonald is a Professor of Engineering Management in the Department of Systems Engineering at the United States Military Academy, West Point. A retired U.S. Army Engineer officer with 28 years of service, he held pivotal roles including Chief of the Engineering Division at the US Army Engineer School, Deputy Commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq and New York, and Contingency Engineer in Kosovo. He is also a Fulbright Scholar with assignments in Kosovo and the Marshall Islands.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Geological Engineering & M.S. in Environmental Engineering – Missouri University of Science and Technology
• M.A. in Character Education – University of Birmingham
• M.A. in Christian Ethics – Seton Hall University
• M.S. in City and Regional Planning & M.S. in Geography – Western Kentucky University
• MBA in Information Systems – Oklahoma City University
• B.S. in Civil Engineering – U.S. Military Academy

Research Focus:
His work centers on capacity development, infrastructure resilience, and ethical decision-making in engineering contexts. He integrates virtue ethics into leadership training and organizational management, with applications in post-conflict reconstruction and geotechnical systems. His multidisciplinary approach spans engineering management, value modeling, and character education.

Awards and Honors:

• Fellow, American Society for Engineering Management
• Inductee, Missouri S&T Academy of Mines and Metallurgy and Academy of Civil Engineers
• 2013 Bliss Medal for Excellence in Engineering Education/Mentorship
• Fulbright Scholar (Kosovo, Marshall Islands)

Global Impact:
He has directed economic development and engineering projects across 9+ countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Panama, emphasizing sustainable infrastructure and ethical leadership frameworks.