For four decades, Deborah “Debbie” Donaldson has been a constant presence in the lives of Army ROTC cadets at East Tennessee State University — helping them navigate paperwork, deployments, commissions, and, at times, profound loss. Long before students put on a uniform or earned a rank, Donaldson made sure they had someone in their corner.

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Coming back home

Donaldson was born and raised in Johnson City. After a few years living in Georgia, she found herself back home in 1983. The following year, she took the civil service test, which connected her to ROTC.

“Years ago, in order to get a job with the civil service, one must take the civil service test. The interviews were based on the test scores,” she said. “I received a phone call to come to the ETSU ROTC program for an interview.”

Donaldson began working in the ROTC program as cadre administrator in June 1984 and has been with the university ever since, filling several different roles. One memorable moment from her early days as an employee was rappelling off the D.P. Culp Student Center.

“I am afraid of heights, so it was a surprise. I have since rappelled off the old rappel tower and the scoreboard in the Mini-Dome (Ballad Health Athletic Center),” she said.

Donaldson returned to the classroom in the fall semester of 1996. After five years of balancing work and school, she became a first-generation college graduate with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.

“I graduated in December 2001 with my first of four granddaughters in attendance,” she said.

40 years of Going Beyond

Over the span of four decades, Donaldson has made it her mission to ensure every cadet has someone in their corner. From the moment cadets enroll, Donaldson is often their first stop. She has written letters to former cadets deployed during Desert Storm, cried alongside students after the loss of classmates, and opened her office — and her table — to those who needed a place to belong.

“Any and all students in the program who wanted to eat were welcome to come join us.  The cadets called it 'tea time with the girls,'” she said.

She’s seen hundreds of cadets come through the program and get commissioned, and is proud of every single one of them. That pride doesn’t fade for their entire lives – or even after.

“I have had several former cadets who have passed away for one reason or another,” she said. “If at all possible, I try to attend their funerals because they served our country and I want to show my gratitude for all they did.”

Donaldson's commitment to honoring those who served doesn’t stop with her own cadets. In 2019, she had a hand in reviving a beloved tradition in thanking veterans for their work.

“I was one of the first board members of Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands,” she said. “There had been an Honor Flight organization in the area before, but it was shut down for a while.”

Wherever you find her – Donaldson is likely lending a hand to whoever happens to be around.  

“If I see a freshman at a basketball game, I let them know where I am if they need any help. The same with church and my part-time job at Belk - I want to help any and all, any way that I can,” she said.  

At ETSU, the Army ROTC program prepares students for leadership in the military and beyond. For four decades, Donaldson has shown cadets what that leadership looks like in practice, rooted in service, care, and showing up, year after year.

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