David Scott-Donelan has shared his extensive tracking knowledge through hundreds of classes spanning a 45-year period. Past students have included local, state, and national law enforcement officers, search and rescue teams, and military personnel from all ranks and branches. First exposed to tracking as a Boy Scout, his growing interest in the skill ignited a passion that became a lifelong pursuit.
Serving in the Rhodesian Army in 1968, he received formal training from Allan Savory, Commanding Officer of the Rhodesian Army Tracker Combat Unit (TCU). The TCU had the unique mission of locating and following the tracks and sign of Russian or Chinese Communist-trained terrorists, that would infiltrate Rhodesia to attack and then hastily retreat back into Zambia and Mozambique. During the Bush Wars, Mr. Scott-Donelan's 27 years of military service included tours with the Rhodesian Special Air Service, Rhodesia Regiment, Tracker Combat Unit, British South African Police Reserve, Rhodesian Light Infantry, Selous Scouts, South African Special Forces and South West Africa Territorial Force.
With the transfer of power from the Rhodesian Government to a former Marxist, Chinese trained terrorist, Scott-Donelan left Rhodesia in 1980 in order to fill a billet as a Group Commander in the South African Special Forces. It was there that African and Bushman trackers, under his command, were again used to successfully follow Cuban supported terrorists that were infiltrating into South West Africa (SWA) from Angola. David had gained first hand knowledge and experience in how tracking and tracking operations could successfully dissuade a counter-insurgency.
In 1988, David was fortunate to win a slot in a U.S. Immigration Lottery, and the opportunity to relocate to America. However, it was not until 1994 that several police and corrections officers from Washington State convinced him to run a tracking class for them. The class was a resounding success and as a result he opened his first tracking school, as a sole proprietorship to provide Rhodesian style tactical man-tracking instruction for law enforcement and military personnel. While not new to America, the tracking subject had not been taught in the United States since the end of the Vietnam War.
David Scott-Donelan, is regarded as one of the world's most effective and capable tracking instructors available today, having provided training for well over 5,000 students, military, police, and civilians over the past 16 years. He is the author of the best selling book, "Tactical Tracking Operations – the Essential Guide for Police and Military Trackers," published by Paladin Press.
David has served as an Expert Witness for the Federal Court System, as a Subject Matter Expert on Combat Tracking for the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Hunter Project, and was the driving force and creator of the U.S. Army Combat Tracking School at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
