Donald B. Jenkins was born and raised in Northern Virginia. As a boy, he developed an interest in the Civil War and later joined a county historical society. He holds a B.A. degree from UVa and a M.A. from George Mason University. He served thirty-two years in various public service positions with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Concurrently, as a hobby, he began collecting, researching and occasionally selling Civil War items, nineteenth-century American pottery and antique country furniture. In 2008, he retired from public service and began writing his book. Donald resides in Falls Church, Virginia, with his wife.