Donald K. Petterson (born November 17, 1930) is an American diplomat, and a career United States Foreign Service officer.
An African affairs specialist, during his career Petterson had overseas postings in Mexico, Zanzibar, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Africa, and was US Ambassador to Somalia, Tanzania, and Sudan. He also served as an interim chargé d'affaires in Zimbabwe and Liberia and had postings in the State Department when not serving overseas.