Pavel Dounaevski

I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and moved to the United States at the age of five, following my family across the East coast. I am a graduate of both Valley Forge Military Academy & College and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I received a dual BA in Political Science and International Relations. The combination of public service and impact-driven career opportunities lead me to join the military. I spent the next decade serving in the US Army in a variety of leadership roles, both overseas and stateside. After transitioning to 5th Special Forces Group, I successfully completed three tours to Middle East as part of a special task force, serving in a variety of operational roles throughout the region. My most recent role took me to the US Embassy, Amman Jordan. After multiple trips overseas, I knew that the same things I could achieve in the military - leading small teams with an outsized impact - could be done on the civilian side. As a non-traditional candidate, I knew that an MBA would prepare me to successfully pivot out of the military. I chose Ross for three reasons; 1) action-based curriculum 2) community and 3) global reach. Outside of work, I enjoy collecting rare bourbons, traveling with my wife and German Shepherd (Loki), and backcountry skiing. I’m a mediocre dancer who moonlights as a failed comedian. As a current Armed Forces Association member, I am passionate about paying it forward for the veteran community after walking a similar path. Feel free to reach out with any questions!