Colonel Benjamin P. Donham was born in Redwood City, California and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1997. He transitioned into the California Army National Guard as a Special Forces Soldier in 2007, and later commissioned in the Army Medical Corps in 2014.

Upon entry into the Medical Corps, his first assignment was to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC) where he served as key faculty in the Emergency Medicine Residency Program for 6 years. While assigned to CRDAMC, he held key leadership positions including serving as Research Director, Associate Residency Program Director, and finally as Deputy Department Chief. Operationally, COL Donham has served as an Emergency Physician and Team Leader with a Medical Special Missions Unit deploying 6 times, in support of overseas combat operations. Additional assignments include Commander of the 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion and Command Surgeon for XVIII Airborne Corps. He is currently the Commander of United States Army Medical Department Activity Alaska.

Colonel Donham earned his Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Doctor of Medicine from Emory University. He completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Cincinnati and an Army War College Fellowship at Harvard University. He is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine in addition to being a Fellow of both the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and the American College of Healthcare Executives. Additionally, he is an Associate Professor of Military and Emergency Medicine at the Uniformed Services University.

Colonel Donham’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with "Combat" device, Army Commendation Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal with "Combat" device, and the Army Achievement Medal. Colonel Donham has earned the Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Special Forces Tab, and holds The Surgeon General’s 9A Designation.