A native of Albany, New York, Doran attended Villanova University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history.

He describes this experience in India as "serendipitously important" as he attended the Staff College with men who would later come to serve in high-ranking positions within their respective governments, among them former Indian CNS Arun Prakash and his successor.

From August 1998 to September 2000, Admiral Doran commanded United States Seventh Fleet homeported out of Yokosuka, Japan.

From June, 1983 to July, 1985, Doran was Military Assistant to the then Vice President of the United States George H. W. Bush.

Doran has concentrated a significant portion of his Raytheon work in fostering and developing the company's sales to India.