Lt. Gen. (Ret) Donald C. Wurster is a former commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, FL. The command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force component of U.S. Special Operations Command. AFSOC provides Air Force Special Operations Forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to unified combatant commanders. Born in Washington, D.C., Donny, the son and grandson of career military officers, was commissioned in 1973 upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy, CO. In 1974, he
completed undergraduate helicopter training at Fort Rucker, AL. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, including assignments in both rescue and special operations flying roles. Donny flew as a mission qualified pilot in the HH-3E Jolly Green Giant, the MH-60G Pave Hawk, the MH-53J Pave Low IIIE, and the CV-22 Osprey. He has commanded special operations forces at the squadron, group, wing, sub-unified command, and MAJCOM level. His extensive skills in programming, budgeting, and acquisition, were successfully employed during staff assignments at HQ Air Force, HQ USSOCOM, and OASD(SO/LIC). Additionally, he served as commander of all U.S. forces
assigned to Joint Task Force-510 during Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines.
Donny has two Master’s degrees, one from Webster College and the other from the Industrial
College of the Armed Forces. He was a Distinguished Graduate from both Squadron Officer’s
School and the Air Command and Staff College.
At the end of his military career, he was honored by the AFSOC Enlisted Force with The Order
of the Sword.