VETERANS SPOTLIGHT
Knowledge is Power
A r m e d w i t h a m a s t e r ’s d e g re e a n d t w o ye a r s f ro m a d o c t o r a t e , G 4 S ’ D a r re n M c D o n o u g h understands the value of education Darren McDonough (back row, second from right) stands with his Iraqi swuad
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hroughout Darren McDonough’s extensive military career, he recognized the value an education could provide. He knew if he ever wanted to achieve his dream of being promoted he needed something more than a high school diploma. So, he hit the books. After five years of night school, McDonough got his associate’s degree from Florida International University (FIU) before getting accepted into the Green to Gold program, a two-year program for enlisted soldiers, to earn his bachelor’s degree. McDonough would later return to graduate school as part of the Army’s Advanced Civilian Schooling (ACS) to receive his master’s in history. McDonough returned to action with his master’s and a promotion, unknowingly on the brink of finalizing his military career. While serving as a Team Chief in Iraq McDonough and his team embarked on a 3 a.m. raid of a small town with hidden weapons. Unaware that the opposition knew their location, the team walked into an ambush. During the attack, McDonough was shot in the chest. As he fell, an explosive device detonated nearby, sending shrapnel into his elbow, side and back and rupturing two vertebrae. The shot to his chest knocked McDonough away from the explosive’s deadly force. Sadly, his team of Iraqis were killed in the explosion. After recovering from his injuries, McDonough decided to retire from the military. During his service, McDonough earned two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Airborne Wings, Air Assault Wings and the coveted U.S. Army Ranger Tab. When he landed in Miami, McDonough returned to FIU to teach Military Science, Military History and Early American History to Officers and Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), positions he held for three years. “It was an easy transition,” said McDonough. “I surrounded
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myself with cadets that wanted to be like what I was. It was a captive audience; everyone around me was very interested in learning. It wasn’t really work — teaching came easy.” Looking for a new challenge, McDonough joined a uniform services company, learning all aspects of the business from contracts to customer service. From there McDonough joined a security provider, where he remained for three years before joining G4S Secure Solutions as General Manager of G4S’ Miami office. As his career in security progresses, McDonough remains focused Darren McDonough (center) with the G4S team in Miami. on furthering his education and is just two years away from a doctorate in Strategic Security Studies, a level of education and expertise that he knows is vital. “I always tell everybody, if you have an opportunity to pursue education, do it,” McDonough said. “It’s the whole package when you’re trying to get hired or move up. I’ve seen it time and time again: military guys with amazing careers, but the question is what have you done since? Are you riding on your military background to complete the rest of your civilian career? If you stay stagnant it’s not a good thing. You have to be a change agent. Education shows that.”
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