Don attended Colorado State University before joining the U.S. Army in 1969 and serving a tour of duty in Vietnam as a Chief Warrant Officer and combat helicopter pilot. 

Convicted in 1981 for his involvement with a marijuana smuggling operation in Florida and New Mexico, Don earned unprecedented commendations from his work in prison with other inmates. His first-hand experiences with inmates of all ages in federal prison inspired Don to address the desperate need for a support system for inmates upon release from prison. Within six months of his own release from federal prison in April of 1988, Don founded The Society for Return to Honor as an Arizona nonprofit corporation to facilitate the reentry of former criminal offenders back into society.

Don has written extensively on the subject of prison reform and human redemption, has published numerous letters, essays and short stories, and is currently self-publishing a book for writers and artists on the subject of turning creative passions into business.

He currently lives in Sedona, Arizona.