LtCol Douglas McDonough commissioned in the Marine Corps in May of 2007 out of the University of Florida Reserve Officer Training Corps program.  He attended The Basic School the following month and graduated in December of 2007. 

Lieutenant McDonough attended the MAGTF Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Course and received orders to 1st Intelligence Battalion at Camp Pendleton, CA in 2008.  He deployed the following year to Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

After redeploying in 2009, Lieutenant McDonough was assigned as the Officer-in-Charge of HUMINT Exploitation Team 8.  He deployed with that team in 2010 in support of 1stBn/2dMar to Operation Enduring Freedom.  After returning from that deployment, Lieutenant McDonough served as the CI/HUMINT Company Executive Officer.

In 2011, Captain McDonough reported to 2nd Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island, SC.  There he served as a Series Commander, Executive Officer, and Company Commander overseeing 10 recruit training cycles. 

In 2014, Captain McDonough attended resident Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA.  Following school, he received orders to 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit as the Assistant Intelligence Officer. He completed a Western Pacific deployment in 2016.

Following the MEU deployment, Major McDonough reported to Marine Detachment Dam Neck to serve as the MAGTF Intelligence Officer Course Director and Advanced Training Company Commander.  After two years in those roles, he transitioned to the Executive Officer position for the detachment.

In 2020, Major McDonough attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, VA.  Following school, Lieutenant Colonel McDonough received orders to Marine Forces Special Operations Command where he served as the G-2 Operations Officer until January of 2024.    

Personal awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy-MC Commendation Medals, and the Combat Action Ribbon.  LtCol McDonough holds master’s degrees in Military Studies and Strategic Intelligence.