Major Doran, who lived in Potomac Falls, Virginia, was born in St. Louis and reared in Overland Park, Kansas. He graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 and earned a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1986.

He had served in the Air Force for 18 years, working in the field of weapons development and evaluation. In addition to stations in Florida, he served with the U.S. On-Site Inspection Team in Russia in support of the SALT agreements. He had served in the Washington area for the past five years and transferred to MIMA last year after being with the Central Intelligence Agency.

He was an avid golfer and ardent booster of Notre Dame athletic teams.

He was a parishioner at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Sterling. He and his wife, Carolyn Bothwell, were on their honeymoon at the time of the accident.

Other survivors include a stepson, Philip Bothwell of Potomac Falls, Va.; his mother, Mary Louise Doran; a brother, Richard Doran; two sisters, Deborah A. Barnes and Marcia L. Doran; three nephews and niece, all of Overland Park.