This study applies the Clark and Estes (2008) gap analysis framework to better understand the influences negatively affecting doctoral completion rates. The purpose of this study was to understand the knowledge, motivation, and organizational factors impacting working fathers' ability to achieve their performance goal of graduating on time from their doctoral program. The mixed methods approach of the study utilized a parallel sequential design, as quantitative survey and qualitative interview data were collected one after another and from the same pool of participants (with a purposeful sampling chosen for qualitative interviews chosen to represent the population to be examined). Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted upon survey results to identify central tendencies and nominal data reflecting participants' feelings and observations. Interviews were coded in a multiphase approach, with the assignment of a priori codes developed with input from the literature. Findings indicate multiple knowledge, motivation, and organizational influences present that leave doctoral students vulnerable to attrition. Doctoral students and working fathers pursuing their doctorates demonstrated similarities in risk, with working fathers found to be at increased risk due to the added strain of remaining engaged as fathers during their doctoral studies. This study begins to bridge a gap between the two bodies of research regarding doctoral attrition and the evolving role of fathers and contributes to a new line of work examining steps to be taken to improve doctoral completion rates of an at-risk population.