Don Hamilton started competitive shooting in 1959 while in the US Navy. He remained a member of the US Navy Team until 1980, winning the 1966, 1968, and 1969 Inter-Service Championships. Hamilton was Outdoor National Champion with the conventional pistol from 1965-69. He won three medals at the Pan American Games, a team gold in center-fire pistol in 1967, and silvers in air pistol and team air pistol in 1979. He also competed on multiple World Championship teams, shooting with the US National Team from 1966-92. The Hamilton 2000 International Pistol Matches are named in memory of Donald Hamilton.