Donald Arthur

Donald Caldwell Arthur, Jr. (January 4, 1950 - present) is a retired U.S. Navy medical corps vice admiral (VADM). He entered the Navy in 1974 and eventually served as the 35th Surgeon General of the United States Navy (2004–2007). After leaving the Navy in 2007 he became a hospital executive at Main Line Health System in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. At the time of his retirement (August 27, 2007) Admiral Michael Mullen called VADM Arthur a "sort of a Renaissance man. His résumé says a lot. BA, MA, JD, PhD, and of course, MD – he’s got more degrees than a thermometer."

He came under controversy when, in the last two years of his naval career, it was noticed that he was claiming a Ph.D degree in health-care management from what is now American Century University and a J.D. from LaSalle University, one of the James Kirk diploma mills. Both degrees had been completed within a 14-month time frame in 1992 and 1993 and were from unaccredited institutions. His résumé also claimed a non-existent master's degree, a claim he made as early as 1974. He has an earned M.D. degree from the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (1974-1978).

The investigation into his falsified résumé began after B. G. Burkett, author of Stolen Valor, asked Admiral Michael Mullen to investigate the matter in November of 2005, two years prior to Arthur's retirement.

Personal Information

Donald Arthur was born on January 4, 1950 and raised in Northampton, Massachusetts. His parents were Donald & Mary Arthur. He has a devoted sister Karen Arthur Lowther. As of April 20, 1999 Arthur was married to Marianne Rose Mele of Tenafly, New Jersey and had fathered 2 children. Rose Anne Arthur (Daughter) was born on October 20, 1979 while Lindsey Anne Arthur (Daughter) was born on June 16, 1984. As of February 26, 2002 (107th Congress) he identified Beverly Kathryn "Bean" Arthur (deceased) of Neenah, WI as his spouse and a third daughter, Dawn (Robin) Arthur, who was born October 12 1989.

Motorcyclist

Arthur ("Don Arthur")" has been a motorcycle enthusiast throughout his adult life. He began riding in 1967 and had no formal training. "There were no courses that I knew of back then," said Admiral Arthur, "so I learned from a friend..." Curiously, by 1973 he claimed to be working for Harley Davidson as a mechanic. All Harley Davidson mechanics are required to certify by attending one of 4 colleges. There is no record that Arthur ever gained certification as a mechanic or that he ever worked for Harley Davidson.

He has been a proponent of motorcycle safety throughout his Naval career. He published an article, "Fatigue and Motorcycle Touring" and lectured extensively on the topic at motorcycle club meetings. Despite his safety concerns, he was quite "accident prone" incurring 3 accidents in his life, two of which were major and disabling.

When asked if he's ever had any close calls, Admiral Arthur responded, "I've had some closer-than-close calls--I've had a couple of accidents. My first one happened while I was working for Harley-Davidson as a mechanic--on April Fool's Day, 1973. I was riding a brand new bike to the shop when a car turned left directly in front of me. I had no reaction time at all. I spent the next four years on crutches and had a total of 10 operations and two knee replacements before they could put my left leg back together well enough to walk again...I also scratched up another helmet when a deer hit me [during the May 2002 four-corners ride.]"

The third accident (August 2005), which was likewise described as unavoidable, occurred on U.S. Highway 36 at Stewartsville, Mo. The Missouri State Highway Patrol report stated that Arthur rear-ended a car traveling in excess of 65 mph. No citation was issued to either driver. Arthur claimed that "Thanks to the helmet, I suffered no brain injury. My injuries are a pelvis fractured in three places, a separated right shoulder, and fracture separations of two ribs at the sternum which caused a pneumothorax (partially collapsed lung)". Curiously in March of 2007 Arthur claimed to have incurred a traumatic brain injury from the incident. "Arthur said he himself suffered a traumatic brain injury a year and a half ago and was initially embarrassed to talk about the problems he was having as a result." At the time of his third accident, Arthur was Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the 35th Surgeon General of the Navy having earned a Three-star position.

In 2002 while on active duty (Rear Admiral lower half), he claimed to have traveled 117,000 miles over a period of 12 months. During this excursion, Arthur struck a deer and shattered his windshield. He claimed his record was verified by the Iron Butt Association but he unfortunately didn't document service station receipts or have his odometer inspected initially. His mileage estimate actually increased to 175,000 total miles in the year. A survey from said association in 2003 found that less than 3% of respondents rode more than 48,000 miles in a year. Considering that Arthur would have had to drive at 65 mph, 8hr/day for 335 days to attain this distance encircling the continental United States 30 times while on active duty for the Navy as a 2 Star Rear Admiral, this was an amazing accomplishment to say the least. His extensive experience in "Fatigue and Motorcycle Touring" certainly must have played a role in his astounding although undocumented endurance record.

Hurt Report (AKA "Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures"), published by the late Professor Harry Hurt has been called "the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century." The List of findings in the Hurt Report in part state:

4. In the single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slide-out and fall due to overbraking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.

16. The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph, and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is approximately 86 mph-

20. Motorcycle riders between the ages of 16 and 24 are significantly Overrepresented in accidents; motorcycle riders between the ages of 30 and 50 are significantly underrepresented.

23. Motorcycle riders with previous recent traffic citations and accidents are overrepresented in the accident data.

24. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents

26. Lack of attention to the driving task is a common factor for the motorcyclist in an accident.

28. Motorcycle riders in these accidents showed significant collision avoidance problems. Most riders would overbrake and skid the rear wheel, and underbrake the front wheel greatly reducing collision avoidance deceleration. The ability to countersteer and swerve was essentially absent.

Education

Arthur attended Northeastern University in Boston, Mass and graduated with a BA degree in 1971. Thereafter he claimed to have been in an "M.A. program" in Genetics but to have not completed it or obtained an M.A. "Arthur said, 'I was in a master's program, but I did not graduate. I do not have a master's degree.'" Indeed in 2009 he said "I have never claimed to have an M.A."

Arthur was accepted to the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 1974. That same year he became an Ensign, in the U.S. Naval Reserve. His tuition to medical school was provided by the US Navy. CAPT John M. Donlon USN, a retired Naval Line Officer, confirmed on May 12, 2008 during a phone conversation with COL Kenneth G. Swan MC, USA (retired), currently a Professor of Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, that VADM Arthur had indeed included his Master of Arts (M.A.) in Genetics from Northeastern University in 1973 on his entrance application to medical school. In addition, Rear Adm. Frank Thorp confirmed "The master's degree first appeared in Arthur's paperwork when he joined the Navy in 1974". The master's degree would actually reappear on future résumés throughout Arthur's career. In addition, he listed the M.A. in Genetics in his 1978 medical school yearbook. He also claimed to be authoring a pharmacology publication but this is likewise unsubstantiated.

Upon obtaining his M.D. in 1978, he reported for active naval duty as a Lieutenant. Between June 1978 and June 1979 he attended a Surgical Internship at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. At this juncture, Arthur formally began his Naval medical career qualifying for a medical license in the state of California (License: G 53102).

While a practicing medical officer, Arthur claimed to obtain additional academic credentials (a Ph.D in 1992 and a J.D. in 1994) which would be pivotal in his future success in the navy and prosperity. As Rear Adm. John Hutson, the Navy's top uniformed lawyer said, "'He may or may not be promoted without it,' Hutson said. 'But one, he had it in his record, and two, there's a pretty good argument that he knew or should have known that people would rely on it, not knowing that they were unaccredited degrees.'". "When his medical school gave him a distinguished alumnus award in 2005, the law degree and Ph.D.were listed, records show".

At the time one of the diploma mills (Lasalle University) was closed and the founders imprisoned for fraud, the U.S. Attorney Harry McSherry sent notifications to the 15,000 graduates with bogus degrees. He stated, "'We had a fairly complete list, and sent notification to everyone on that list'...McSherry added that students were told to tell their employers or future employers about the validity of the university's accreditation. The Chicago Tribube expose' by Russell Working, Reporter, on October 1, 2008 reveals that Arthur admitted taking "some courses from two places that are unaccredited." He attributed this to the fact that in 1993-1994, "I could say I was naive, but I was 40 years old. And I didn't understand completely what was going on." This does not explain his inclusion of these unaccredited degrees in his future résumés and biographies.

Medical Career and Active Duty

Between July and December of 1979 he attended Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, FL. Thereafter Arthur was at the Naval Undersea Medicine Institute in New London, CT (January-June 1980). In October of 1980 he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander while serving in the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory in Groton, CT as a Research Medical Officer. He was then, on August 3, 1981, Augmented in the U.S. Navy. Next, between Feb 1982 and Feb 1984, he claimed to be Flight Surgeon/Diving Medical Officer at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Subic Bay, RP. He then became the Senior Medical Officer on the USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63)(March 1984-July 1986)

While in Subic Bay (30 Aug 1983), he claims training in Lakehurst, NJ as a Parachutist obtaining Jumpmaster certification on August 30, 1983. In fact, Lakehurst hadn't been a training center since WWII and the parachute jump field became a toxic oil dump (1950-1970). In addition, the Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide states "Hardware implanted as a component of a prosthetic joint (arthroplasty) is CD." Since Arthur had two total knee replacements in 1973 at the time of his first motorcycle accident, he was ineligible for a medical waver for Military operational parachuting.

On August 1, 1986 he was promoted to Commander and practiced as an Emergency Physician and Resident at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA (Aug 1986-Jun 1990). Arthur claimed board certification in Emergency Medicine as well. There is no mention of his board certification in Emergency Medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialists although his AEROSPACE certification is listed. His Emergency Medicine certification is not listed in his Naval résumés but appears in his Navy] and Mainline] biographies as do his residency claims. In addition residency training and board certification in Emergency Medicine are not listed on either his California and more recently his Pennsylvania (License Number 438749) licensure.

He has also claimed that he served as the Head of the Division of Emergency Medicine at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA between August 1988 and June 1990. In fact, CAPT "Cary" Gresham Bayne MD MC, USN was Head of ER at that time.

Between Jun 1990 and Oct 1992 Arthur served as the Head, Special Projects, Academics Department at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, FL. Arthur claims board certification in Preventive Medicine (Aerospace). No residency training is reported.

In 1991, he was deployed to Operation Desert Storm where he claimed combat experience.

On MAY 1, 1992 he was promoted to Captain and between Oct 1992 and Oct 1994 served at the Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, DC as the Director of Medical Programs. While performing his duties at the time, he was able to obtain his Ph.D (1992) from the American Century University and completed his Ph.D thesis in health care management. When the American Century University was contacted for a copy of his thesis, they claimed that it had been destroyed in a routine records purge. Arthur apparently did not retain a copy of it either and has failed to provide it upon request. Ph.D theses are typically maintained in an international databank to prevent duplication by future students obtaining their doctorate. In Arthur's case this did not occur. By 1993, he had completed his J.D. from La Salle University. Both degrees were accomplished in a mere 14 months and are unaccredited and not recognized by the US Navy.

Between October 1994 and April 1996 Arthur served as the Deputy Commander of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, CA. Following this, between April 1996 and August 1998 he was the Commanding Officer at the Naval Hospital in Camp Lejune, NC. Then, between August 1998 and 1999, he was the Assistant Chief for Health Care Management Plans for the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, DC. Apparently his degrees served him well as he served his country.

Arthur was awarded his First Naval Star as Rear Admiral (lower half) on May 1, 2000 by the 106th Congress of the US. During his tenure he performed his epic 117,000 mile motorcycle journey throughout the continental United States in 2002. On July 1,2003 he was appointed Rear Admiral by the 107th Congress, earning his Second Star. Finally, in 2004, Arthur gained his Third Star by the l08th Congress and became Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and 35th Surgeon General of the US Navy where he served until 2007. While serving in this capacity he incurred a traumatic brain injury from his third motorcycle accident (August 2005).

Prior to his retirement in 2007, Rear Admiral Frank Thorp. stated that a "preliminary" Naval inquirey into Arthur's credentials had occurred and concluded that there was "no wrongdoing" by the officer in these regards. Due to confidentiality issues, the Office of the Inspector General will not comment on the investigation and Arthur will not authorize a release of the report.. 24

Combat Experience

During his service in Pensacola, he was deployed to Operation Desert Storm (1991). Arthur has on multiple occasions claimed combat experience during Operation Desert Storm. Indeed, "In July 2007, he told a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee: 'Having been in combat, I know that no one goes into combat and comes out without being significantly affected.'"" "Dr. Arthur served in combat operations with the Marine Corps in Desert Storm." His Mainline biography clearly states, "During Desert Storm, he experienced combat in support of the Marine Corps." The April 16, 2007 transcript from the Task Force on Mental Health care verifies VADM Arthur said "I've been in combat, it is a life-changing event to go under that kind of stress"

The official history of the Marine Corp does not mention any combat experience in Arthur's record. His Commanding Officer at the time, "Frederick M. Burkle Jr., who was the top medical officer of Arthur's unit in Saudi Arabia, said, 'We could certainly see the war was going on at a great distance, but we were not hit and we did not receive any fire.'"

Of further note, Arthur is reported to have worn the [Combat Action Ribbon] rewarded to those who " have actively participated in ground or surface combat" and this to the chagrin of veterans who have actually been in combat.". This ribbon is not listed on any of his Nomination résumés for the US Navy. Mr. Jan Herman MA - Historian at Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) can confirm that VADM Donald Caldwell Arthur BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD, MC, USN (retired) wore a Combat Action Ribbon to his retirement ceremony.

When questioned about wearing the ribbon and his combat experience by Josh Goldstein, Investigative Reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Arthur "declined to describe his combat role."

External links

• Official Navy Biography