Patrick Donahoe | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Donahoe in 2013 | |
| 73rdUnited States Postmaster General | |
| In office December 6, 2010 – February 1, 2015 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Ronald Stroman |
| Preceded by | Jack Potter |
| Succeeded by | Megan Brennan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1955-10-27)October 27, 1955 (age 70)[1] Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | University of Pittsburgh (BA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MBA) |
Patrick R. Donahoe (born October 27, 1955) is an American politician who served as the 73rdUnited States postmaster general, having been appointed to the post on October 25, 2010. A 35-year veteran of thePostal Service, he reported to the Postal Service Board of Governors.
The eldest of three children of John L. and Joan (Burke) Donahoe, Patrick's parents were workers at theGeneral MotorsFisher Body Plant, a Pittsburgh car factory.[2] Mr Donahoe is a 1977 graduate of theUniversity of Pittsburgh where he majored in economics. He also graduated from theMIT Sloan School of Management, where he was aSloan Fellow.[3] Before being postmaster, Donahoe served as the 19th deputy postmaster general.
He entered theUnited States Postal Service as a clerk inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the advice of his uncle Bob Burke, a mail carrier, who encouraged young Patrick to take the postal service exam.[4][5][6][7]
His predecessor, Postmaster GeneralJohn E. Potter, testified before the Senate[8] that if the Postal Service is not able to readjust their payment toward the pre-funding of retiree health benefits, as mandated by thePostal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006,[9] the USPS would be forced to consider cutting delivery to five days per week during the summer months of June, July, and August. Donahoe echoed his predecessor's views on five-day delivery when he assumed office in 2011.
On February 6, 2013, Donahoe announced that the Postal Service would implement five-day mail delivery beginning August 5, a move he claimed would save $2 billion annually. Later the same day, the national board of the postal union, theNational Rural Letter Carriers' Association, voted unanimously to call for his dismissal.[10] July 16, the House passed the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, which included language protecting six‐day mail delivery, thereby blocking Donahoe's plan.
Donahoe retired on February 1, 2015[11] andMegan Brennan, the first female Postmaster General, was appointed as his successor the following February.[12][13][14]
Mr Donahoe is married and has two children and two grandchildren. He is of Irish and Slovak descent.[15][16][17] He started collecting postage stamps at the age of 12.[18] After his retirement from the Postal Service, Donahoe now serves on the board ofSG360°, a marketing firm.[19] Donahoe also serves as board chairman for Postal Realty Trust, a NYSE listed company which is the largest owner of properties leased to the US Postal Service.
Appointed Postmaster General by the Postal Service Board of Governors in October, 2010, Mr. Donahoe began his 37-year USPS career as a clerk in Pittsburgh, PA
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by | United States Postmaster General 2010–2015 | Succeeded by |
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