A Florida A&M University (FAMU) Army ROTC cadet has been assigned to the U.S Army’s newly created Cyber Branch for the first time.
Cadet Arthur McDonald, a computer science graduate student and Spring 2021 Distinguished Military Graduate, learned recently he has been assigned to the Army’s newly created Cyber Branch. The Bamberg, South Carolina, native will be the first member of the FAMU Rattler Battalion to be assigned as a U.S. Army cyber officer.
McDonald’s major is in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity. He is also a Distinguished Military Graduate, Intel Scholar. Prior to coming to FAMU, McDonald attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte(UNCC), where he earned a business management information systems degree.
During his time in Charlotte, McDonald participated in varsity football playing the position of safety and was involved with the Student Athletic Advisory Council. After graduating UNCC in May of 2019, McDonald went on to attend Basic ROTC camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he excelled as a top cadet.
Upon graduating from basic camp, McDonald started his first semester at FAMU in the computer science master’s program as well as the ROTC program.
During his first year at FAMU, McDonald rose to become one of the top cadets in his class as battalion commander, the position he currently holds. He earned both a national ROTC scholarship and an Intel scholarship. Upon graduation in the spring 2021, McDonald will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Cyber Corps, which only accepted 59 out 3,300 cadets.
