Colonel Doan was born in Saigon, Vietnam. He arrived in the U.S. as a refugee from the Vietnam War. He joined the Marine Corps and received his commission as a 2ndLt after completing Officers Candidate School in August of 1997. He completed the Basic School and Infantry Officer Course in 1998.
1stLt Doan, reported to Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. He was a Rifle Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Operations Officer. He deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable. After Sep 11th, 2001, 1/1 was inserted into Jacobabad, Pakistan and was the first armed insertion of Marine forces on the ground in Afghanistan in support of OEF I.
In August 2002, Capt Doan reported to MCRD, San Diego. He served 11 cycles as a Series Commander, Company Executive Officer, and the Commanding Officer of Company K, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. In June 2006, he was assigned as the Maneuver Advisor to Military Transition Team 11, as the Officer in Charge for an Iraqi Special Forces/ Recon Unit “Desert Protectors” in support of OIF, Al Anbar Province. Upon return, in June 2007, he reported to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines as Company Commander for Company B where he returned to Hitt, Iraq, support of OIF, Al Anbar Province.
In July 2008, Maj Doan was selected as an Instructor for the Infantry Career Captain’s course. He received accolades as the Chief Instructor and inducted into the National Army Infantry Hall of Recognition. He was a 3x Army Combatives Champion and Army Combatives/MMA Team participant. In July 2010, he reported to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines as the Battalion XO and deployed to Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of OEF.
In March 2012, he reported to Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group, 29 Palms, as an Operational Tactics Instructor and Team OIC. In July 2013, Maj Doan was the Operations Officer for Weapons and Field Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego. During this tenure he received the Marine Corps Athlete of the Year representing the United States National Pankration/MMA team and winning multiple World Championships.
In June 2015, LtCol Doan was selected as the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Operations Officer and deployed on WESTPAC 13.1 where the MEU conducted aviation strikes against ISIS within the northern Iraq region in support Operation Inherent Resolve. In 2016, LtCol Doan assumed command of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and deployed as BLT 3/5 with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. In 2018 post command, he was assigned to 1st MarDiv, G3, Plans and Operations as the Future Operations Planner.
In 2019, LtCol Doan reported to USSOCOM, Pentagon to the Joint SOF Interagency Directorate as a Special Ops Support Team Member for Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction, Counter Network Division, and Counter Terrorism with Department of Homeland Security and FBI HQ. He deployed with NATO Special Operations Component Command/ Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan as the Dir CJ7 Force Management and SOF Development for Operation Freedom Sentinel against insurgent and threat networks through security force assistance, kinetic/surgical strikes, and close air support. On July 2021, LtCol Doan assumed duties as the Director, G35, Regional Operations/Plans.
In July 2024, Col Doan reported to Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California as the Commanding Officer.
LtCol Doan graduated with distinction from the Advanced Infantry Officer Course, Airborne School (Officer Honor Grad), Command and Staff College (distinguished) and the Naval War College (distinguished). He graduated Summa Cum Laude in all degrees with an A.A.S in Computer Aided Drafting Technology, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering/Industrial Design from University of Southern California, a Masters in Business Administration, a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies and the first Marine to graduate the NWC Ethics in Emerging Military Technologies top level school post graduate certificate program with emphasis on Artificial Intelligence.
Col Doan’s personal awards include Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal w/bronze oak leaf (in lieu of 2nd award), Meritorious Service Medal with 4 stars (in lieu of 5th award), Navy Commendation Medal with “V” distinguishing device and star (in lieu of 2nd award), Navy Achievement Medal, Army Achievement medal with 2 palms (in lieu of 3rd award), Combat Action Ribbon with star (OIF, OEF), Humanitarian Assistance Medal, and Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.