Boards: Kellanova (formally Kellogg), Mckesson, Target, University of San Diego Board of Trustees, Marine Corps University Foundation Board of Trustees.

Donald Knauss grew up in Highland, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in history. Knauss joined the Marine Corps in 1976 and was an artillery officer in Kaneohe, Hawaii, from 1978 to 1981. He began his business career at Procter & Gamble in brand management in the paper division in 1981. After leaving Procter & Gamble, he spent nine years with PepsiCo in various marketing and sales roles. Knauss left PepsiCo in 1994 and spent 12 years at the Coca-Cola company. He served as president of the Minute Maid Company and as president of Coca-Cola Southern Africa. His last assignment there was as president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola North America. He left Coca-Cola in 2006 to take on the role of chair and CEO of the Clorox company. He retired from Clorox in 2015. 

Knauss joined the Kellogg board in 2007 and became lead director in 2016. He also chairs the nominating and governance committee. He joined the McKesson board in 2014, and after holding various committee leadership roles, he became chair of the board in 2022. Knauss joined the Target board in 2015 and became chair of the infrastructure and finance committee in 2023.  

Knauss also serves on the University of San Diego board of trustees, and he was chair from 2016 to 2023. In addition, he serves on the Marine Corps University Foundation board of trustees and became vice chair in 2024.