Doug was born in Massachusetts, but grew up in Anchorage, where he attended Service High School. He has five siblings, is married to a fantastic woman, and has a fun-loving, inquisitive daughter. Doug enjoys reading and spending time with his family.

As an undergraduate, Doug attended Boston College, graduating magna cum laude. He obtained a PhD in philosophy from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom and taught philosophy for seven years at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Doug attended University of California Irvine College of Law. After law school, Doug was admitted to the Alaska bar and clerked for Judge Michael MacDonald in Fairbanks. Doug practices in the areas of torts, contracts, insurance law, healthcare law and regulation, and wills and estates. He also has experience in Alaska divorce and child custody cases.