Donald E. Cole is a military veteran, ordained pastor, and seasoned public leader whose life reflects the message he writes about—how God shapes people through adversity, purpose, and grace. Born in Barnesville, Georgia and raised in Bonaire near Warner Robins Air Force Base, Cole’s early years in Middle Georgia formed the foundation of his lifelong commitment to service, faith, and leadership.
After graduating from Warner Robins High School and earning an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Gordon Military College, Cole served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Investigator in the Panama Canal Zone and later at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration from Georgia Southern University, followed by a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Cole’s career spans both ministry and public administration. He served as City Administrator in communities in Georgia and Texas, worked in congressional public service, and later became Chairman of Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
His advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities earned him the National Advocacy Award from Easter Seals—the only Georgian ever to receive the honor. He also served as Primary Speechwriter for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, bringing his communication gifts to the federal level.
As a pastor, Cole has led Southern Baptist churches in Georgia and returned to the former Panama Canal Zone to serve as pastor of First Baptist Church of Balboa. He currently serves as Pastor of Fair Haven Baptist Church near Eastman, Georgia, continuing a ministry marked by biblical clarity and compassion.
Cole has also been active in public leadership, serving as Chairman of the Dougherty County GOP, Chairman of Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District, and as a Delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention. His experience in political communication and grassroots leadership shaped his first book, Grassroots: Leading Others to Accomplish the Impossible, chronicling the historic 2002 election of Georgia’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction.
He is the author of Grassroots, They Offered to Lead their Nation, and Shaped in Life’s Quarry, and writes the long‑running conservative editorial email “DonCole.Com – Common Sense from DC (Not Washington),” which reaches and influences leaders across Georgia and beyond.
He maintains an active platform through DonCole.com and continues writing, teaching, and encouraging others to rise to the top through faith, resilience, and God’s shaping hand.
Cole lives in Cordele, Georgia with his wife, Leslie.