Donald H. Horner III '08
'00's Classes
Donnie Horner III is the People & Culture Director at K9s For Warriors in Ponte Vedra, Florida. K9s For Warriors pairs highly trained Service Dogs with Veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and/or MST. In his role, Donnie inspires, informs, and connects employees across all locations to K9s For Warriors' mission, vision, culture, and long-range strategic plan.
A community servant, Donnie has been Chairman of the Board of Directors for The River Club in Jacksonville, Florida, served on the Board of Trustees for the City of Jacksonville’s Public Library and the National M.S. Society’s Northeast Florida Chapter. Currently, he serves on the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Naval Academy’s Alumni Association and is Class President.
Donnie earned his B.S. in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2008 and earned his M.B.A. from Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business in 2011. He is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Jacksonville and was a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives (District 11) in 2016. He was a celebrity participant in Jacksonville's Dancing with the Stars in 2019 and is an avid endurance athlete having completed three Boston Marathons.
As a Midshipman, Donnie served as 13th Company 1st Sergeant and 13th Company Commander. He delivered the game ball on the field prior to the 2007 Army-Navy game and was a member of both the baseball and ice hockey teams. In his Firstie year, he was the recipient of the Donald Coats award for Excellence in Military Sociology and named the 2008 Naval Academy Athletic Association’s Club Sport Athlete of the Year.
Commissioned an Ensign at graduation, Donnie served as Deck Department 2nd Division Officer aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Donnie was medically retired from the service just two years into his career.
Donnie and his wife Kristen are parishioners at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church where Donnie is a lector. They live in Jacksonville Beach and have a golden doodle named Ellie.