Mrs. Constance M. McDonald

Constance M. McDonald

Outstanding Volunteer 

Inducted 2024 

Constance  M. McDonald (Connie) has made a profound difference in the lives of countless Field Artillery Soldiers and their families, tirelessly serving veterans, active-duty service members and their families through her volunteer work with numerous organizations. For more than 30 years, she has volunteered with organizations that support Army family programs and Wounded Warriors. In addition, she has worked with the National Military Family Association and was a member of the stand-up staff for Survivor Outreach Services at Fort Hood, Texas. Because of her experience, she represented Army families by testifying before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in 2007. While a student at Cameron University, she was married with two children and carried a perfect 4.0 GPA. A member of Phi Alpha Theta, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1991. She wrote and researched her thesis project on the identity of the real Molly Pitcher. She was the first spouse ever to be published in the FA Journal with her article “Molly Pitcher: Who Was She?” in the August 1990 FA Journal. She then successfully lobbied the Chief of the Field artillery and the US Field Artillery Association to accept Margaret Hayes McCauley as the true Field Artillery Molly Pitcher. As a Field Artillery Spouse, she served as a battery Family Support Group leader and then became a Family Readiness Group leader at the battalion level. She was a mentor and advisor to subordinate FRG leaders at the brigade level. Cited as a huge supporter of the Army Family Action Plan, she also worked on the Army Community Service staff of family programs at Fort Bragg, N.C. As a military spouse, Connie moved 20 times, which provided many opportunities to use her history degree working in local museums as either a volunteer or staff member. At the same time, she was helping families navigate the challenges of Army life, she also managed her own small business, offering facilitation and training services. As the Commanding General’s Spouse at Ft Sill, she served in many advisory volunteer roles for field artillery spouses on post and in the community. In 2014, she was selected as one of Lawton’s Women of the Year. When her husband, MG Mark McDonald retired from the U.S. Army in August 2016, after a 36-year career, Connie McDonald was also feted. She was awarded her second Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the Secretary of the Army for extraordinary contributions and leading initiatives that enhance the quality of life not only at several major installations such as Fort Sill and Redstone Arsenal, Ala., but also for subordinate commands at Fort Bragg and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Connie served on the Board of Directors for USFAA and worked for over 4 years on concepting the requirements for the Esteemed Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher Award. This is only the 4^th award presented by the association. It is now given to senior Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery spouses around the globe. This is a lasting legacy to the work Connie contributed to the Association. She and her husband Mark now enjoy retirement in their log cabin in the hills near Monterey, Tenn. Connie is still giving back to the army family as a consultant and guest speaker at many family resource events.