Mary McDonald, Research Associate, NPS

Professional History

Education

M.S. in Applied Mathematics “With Distinction” (Operations Analysis Track), Naval Postgraduate School, 1997
B.A. in Mathematics, Northwestern University, 1991

Experience

Lecturer and Faculty Associate for Research, SEED Center for Data Farming, Naval Postgraduate School, 2008-present
Senior Staff, Systems Planning & Analysis, 2005 - 2008
Senior Operations Research Analyst, The MITRE Corporation, 2002 - 2005
Senior Scientist, Science Applications International Corporation, 2000 - 2002
Mathematics Instructor, MECEP College Prep Program, United States Marine Corps Reserve, 2004
Applied Mathematics / Statistics Officer, United States Marine Corps, 1997 - 2000
Financial Management Officer, United States Marine Corps, 1991 – 1997
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps Reserve, 2006 - 2012

Honors and Awards

Navy Civilian Service Commendation Medal, 2024
MORS John K. Walker Award, 2021 (with co-authors Capt Courtney Thompson and Prof Tom Lucas)
Wayne E. Meyer Award for Teaching Excellence, 2017
Wayne E. Meyer Award for Teaching Excellence, 2016
NATO Science and Technology Organization Scientific Achievement Award (SEED Center team award), 2014
The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) Achievement Award, 2012
Navy League Award for Highest Academic Achievement, Naval Postgraduate School, 1997
Outstanding Thesis Award, Naval Postgraduate School, 1997
Barchi Prize runner up (with co-author Stephen Upton), "Coevolving Red and Blue: Analyzing the Dynamics of Competition," Military Operations Research Society, 2002
Three Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals (1995, 2001, 2004)
Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, 1994
Honor Graduate, Financial Management Officers Course, Camp Johnson, NC, 1992
Marine-Option NROTC Honor Graduate, Northwestern University, 1991
Phi Beta Kappa, Northwestern University, 1991

Service

4-H Association Secretary / Club Adult Volunteer (December 2020 - Present).
Committee Chair, SUPERGirls SHINE Foundation, Washington, DC. (December 2017 - 2019).
Panel Member and Co-Chair for the "Leading Ladies in STEM" event held at George Washington University in Washington DC, Feb 24 2018.
Co-Chair, WG31 (Computing Advances in Military Operations Research (2011, 2012, 2013)
Chair, WG 31 (Computing Advances in Military Operations Research), 77 th Military Operations Research Society Symposium (2009)
Working Group Co-Chair, MORS Workshop “Agent Based Models and Stability Operations”, 2005
Reviewer for Systems Engineering, the INCOSE Journal, 2004 – 2005 (for editor Dr. Andrew Sage, George Mason University Dissertation Committee Chair)
Past Secretary-Treasurer, Military Applications Society, INFORMS, 2003 - 2004
Program Co-Chair for INFORMS Military Applications Section 4th Annual Conference, Quantico, VA, 2004
I/ITSEC Emerging Concepts Research & Development Subcommittee, 2002 - 2004
Co-Chair of WG 12 (Land & Expeditionary Warfare), 69 th MORS Symposium, 2001
Student Guide / Escort Officer, United States Senate Youth Program, 2001

Professional Organizations