Professor Dr. Donald Coffelt

Biography

Donald Coffelt is an Associate Vice President for Facilities Management and Campus Services at Carnegie Mellon University, where he is responsible for leading a 400-member team that provides essential facility services, infrastructure management, utility operations, and auxiliary services across the university's expansive 150-acre campus in Pittsburgh. With a strong background in program management, he coordinated university-wide sustainability practices that align with modern standards for environmental responsibility. Before joining Carnegie Mellon, Coffelt held executive roles at a facility services technology firm from 1995 to 2003, overseeing nationwide program management efforts. He also completed a distinguished 28-year career as a Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, involved in various leadership assignments. Coffelt holds a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University, a Master’s from the University of Illinois, and a Bachelor’s from the United States Coast Guard Academy. He is a licensed professional engineer in Alaska and Pennsylvania and is a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. His academic contributions include a graduate-level textbook titled 'Fundamentals of Infrastructure Management' and his active community engagement includes serving on boards such as the United States Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association.

Research Interests