Episode Details

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Today I bring you Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan.

On September 3rd, 2015, the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)/U.S. 5th Fleet /Combined Maritime Forces held a change-of-command ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt where Vice Admiral and former wrestler Kevin Donegan took command.

Most of us have heard of CENTCOM, which is U.S. Central Command. NAVCENT, Naval Forces Central Command, is the naval component of CENTCOM. That’s what the Admiral does… he’s the Commander NAVCENT and the 5th Fleet. The area of responsibility encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean. That comprises 20 countries!

Vice Adm. Donegan is a 1980 graduate of my alma mater, the University of Virginia. His first operational assignment was with Strike Fighter Squadron 131 where he was among the first F/A-18’s to strike Libya.

Donegan then commanded that same squadron, completing a deployment to the Arabian Gulf where he earned three command excellence awards. He also commanded the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. He commanded Battle Force 7th Fleet and Carrier Strike Group 5 aboard USS George Washington.

Donegan's most recent assignment was director of operations for CENTCOM. He served at the Pentagon as director of the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review (basically the budget review), and as the aide to the deputy chief of naval operations for Plans, Policy and Operations.

He completed duty as flag lieutenant to the commander of Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy. During that tour he deployed to Sarajevo as the NATO liaison to the commander of the United Nations Protection Forces serving as the principal air advisor during NATO's air strikes.

Donegan graduated from several naval schools and colleges including the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School as the Outstanding Student, the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), as well as completed Harvard Kennedy School's Executive Education Program in National and International Security.

His personal awards are far too numerous to list here. Let’s just say it would be like listing Bruce Baumgartner’s career awards and medals. His flying experience includes over 3,800 hours in 31 different types of aircraft and over 800 landings on 15 different aircraft carriers.
(source http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=402)

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About Your Host Jim Harshaw

My name is Jim Harshaw. You and I were both wrestlers once so we’re coming from the same place, which is a good place for us to start. And I know where you’re at. You’re working hard and qualified for what you do but you aren’t getting what you want. You have plans on getting to the C-suite or launching a business but ultimate success seems as far away today as ever. You’re at the right place because you can get there from here.

And I can help.

Who I Am

I’m a speaker, author and former Division I All American wrestler that helps motivated former wrestlers reach their full potential by getting clarity on their what they really want and taking agressive action to lead their ideal life.


I’m a husband and father of four. And I’m a serial entrepreneur. I’ve launched multiple successful businesses as well as the obligatory failed one. I’ve been the executive director of a non-profit and have raised millions of dollars. I’ve worked in sales. I’ve even been a Division I head coach. While I was born in a b