Meet the Game Creators

Commander Mark McDonagh, USNR

Commander Mark McDonagh was commissioned from the Navy ROTC unit, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1978, and has served in the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific Fleets aboard nuclear submarines. During ten years of active duty he has served on board the latest classes of fast attack and ballistic missile submarines, both in tactical and engineering capacities. From 1985-1987 he was assigned to the staff of the Submarine Development Squadron, where he directed operations analysis projects studying U.S. fast attack submarine operational effectiveness. All fifteen of Commander McDonagh's reports were forwarded to the Chief of Naval Operations.

Commander McDonagh is a graduate of Naval Nuclear Propulsion training, the Submarine Officer Advanced Course, the Naval War College Strategic Planning and War Gaming Course, and was awarded the 1987 Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association award for excellence in tactical planning. He also holds a Master of Science degree in physics with an emphasis on mathematical models, numerical modeling and Chaos Theory.

Since transferring to the Naval Reserve, Commander McDonagh has returned to the staff of the Submarine Development Squadron where he continues to perform tactical and weapons systems analysis for the submarine force. In his civilian capacity, Commander McDonagh designs tactical submarine warfare systems.

Lt. Cmdr. Dan McDonagh

Lt. Cmdr. Dan McDonagh retired from the U.S. Navy in 1994 after 19 years as a surface warfare officer. He sub-specialized in logistics, maritime transportation and naval mechanical engineering. He also gained detailed experience in intelligence and electronic warfare, and achieved special recognition for his war gaming expertise. The Navy awarded him four Navy Commendation medals for outstanding service, including one for leadership of a unit under fire.

During four tours with the Pacific fleet, Dan served in anti-air, anti-submarine, amphibious, and combat logistics ships in both operations and engineering capacities. He culminated his afloat service as Chief Staff Officer for the Navy's pre-positioning force in the Indian Ocean.

Overseas shore duty included service as an intel watch officer and an analyst of the PRC-SRV War and the Iran-Iraq War. During Desert Shield/Storm he was second in command of military sealift in southwest Asia. In two tours at the War Gaming Department of the Naval War College, Dan served as Logistics Branch Head; was a member of the Advanced Concepts team; and was a war game designer, director and controller.

Dan holds a BA, MS, is completing another civilian masters degree, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the Naval War College. He is presently employed with American Electronic Warfare Associates, Inc., of Lexington Park, MD, where he provides modelling and simulation support for naval aircraft test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.