“Mr. Arnold has demonstrated throughout his career tremendous leadership qualities, including the ability to guide the development and implementation of both short-term and long-term plans that have improved the organizations for whom he has worked,” said Board Chairman Charles A. Gomulka. “We are confident he will be a great asset to Cheyney and to the entire Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.”

Arnold holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial education from Hampton Institute and a Master of Arts degree in personnel management and administration from George Washington University. He also is a graduate of the Naval War College and has studied at both the University of Michigan and Harvard University.

When he retired from the Army, Arnold was assistant director of personnel at Army headquarters. In that position, he formulated and guided the review of the Army’s five-year human resources management program through Army, Secretary of Defense and Congressional approvals. The plan defined military and civilian manpower requirements through 2001. He also coordinated the development and approval of a program that vastly expanded access to occupational specialties and career opportunities for women and guided the development, upgrading and maintenance of the Army’s personnel information management systems.

Arnold was commander of the Army’s ROTC program from 1990 to 1993, serving as the chief executive officer of the national organization, which included 6,400 staff and 45,000 college and 125,000 high school cadets, with an annual budget of $200 million. He was charged with ensuring both the curriculum and training for the college program met the needs of the service for new Army lieutenants, while increasing the quality and number of ROTC cadets. Arnold also served for six years as commander of the ROTC’s Eastern Region.

Arnold joined the Army in 1961, serving in a variety of posts, including positions in Washington, D.C., and in Europe, throughout his career. From 1982 to 1984 he was commander of the Air Defense Artillery Brigade, which included 4,000 soldiers in units dispersed over 150 miles and provided anti-aircraft artillery support to U.S. and Allied forces in Europe.

Immediately after retiring from the Army, Arnold was named regional director of business development for Computer Sciences Corporation and later served as executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Information Technology Solutions in Hampton. He assumed his current position in 2001, in which he serves as administrator for all data conversion and technical services contracts awarded to Hampton University.

Arnold earned numerous honors during his military service, including a Distinguished Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal. He also has been recognized for his civic and community service, receiving such honors as the Roy Wilkins Meritorious Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Douglas MacArthur Distinguished Service Award from the Army and the Hampton University Distinguished Alumni Award.

He is married to Earlene Costner Arnold. The couple has two daughters, Sheila and Stephanie, and a grandson, Krisstopher.

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is one of 14 state-owned universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. With more than 104,000 students, the State System is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its universities combined offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 375,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.