B.S., University of New Haven, Law Enforcement Administration, 1986
M.S., University of New Haven, Criminal Justice, 1995
M.S., Johns Hopkins University, Management, 2009
Robert “Bobby” McDonald holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven, as well a master's degree in Management from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.
He has experience as both a State of Connecticut and United States Probation Officer and spent over 20 years with the United States Secret Service. Throughout his career, he completed assignments at the New Haven Resident Office in Connecticut, as well as the Presidential, Vice Presidential, and Dignitary Protection Divisions in Washington, DC. He coordinated security for numerous foreign and domestic dignitary visits, as well as several National Special Security Events, including the 2011 APEC Summit in Honolulu, HI and the 2012 G8 Summit at Camp David in Thurmont, MD. McDonald also spent time in charge of all asset and personnel allocations for the agency in the Office of Protective Operations and was the operations supervisor at the U.S. Secret Service academy located in Beltsville, MD. He is considered an expert in executive protection, intelligence, and event planning operations, as well as a leading authority of protective travel logistics and training.
See MoreHe retired in September of 2015 as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Vice-Presidential Division. In this position, McDonald was responsible for all protective operations and training provided to the 180 special agents assigned to then Vice President Joseph Biden and his family.
Upon retirement from the U.S. Secret Service, he joined the security department of the National Basketball Association in New York, NY, as Senior Director of Global Events Security. During his five and a half years at the NBA, McDonald coordinated numerous domestic and foreign events such as the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro and several global games in Shanghai, London, Mexico City, and Tokyo. He was the coordinator of the NBA’s security platform at the 2020 NBA All Star Weekend in Chicago, IL and oversaw the security platform for two “bubbles” put on by the NBA for the recent completion of the 2019-2020 and the 2020-2021 basketball seasons.
From 1978-1995, McDonald was an on-ice hockey official, working high school, collegiate (ECAC) and professional (AHL) games in the northeast.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, and Matt Caporale, executive director of the Career Development Center, along with the Secret Service discuss the outstanding caliber of student from the University who are apply for positions with the agency through an on-campus recruitment opportunity, which they have called the 'New Haven Model.'
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses a series of attacks targeting women who are being punched in the face, and how to lower the risk and protect yourself.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the difficulty of stopping fans from storming the court at the end of basketball games.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the rise in travel advisory warnings for many popular spring break destinations and some helpful advice for staying safe.
In the Media
Lisa Dadio, senior lecturer of forensic science and director of the Center for Advanced Policing, and Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discuss the trial of Michelle Troconis as the jury begins deliberations.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, comments on travel advisories for spring break and some advice on staying safe abroad.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the escalation of travel warnings overseas during spring break and gives some advice on how to stay safe abroad.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses a mass shooting that occurred in Kansas City, which left one person dead and injured nine. This is part three of a three-part interview.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses a mass shooting that occurred in Kansas City, which left one person dead and injured nine. This is part two of a three-part interview.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses a mass shooting that occurred in Kansas City, which left one person dead and injured nine. This is part one of a three-part interview.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments that the security infrastructure in Las Vegas is well-equipped to handle this year’s Super Bowl.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses a spree of burglaries and armed robberies at gas stations and what you can do to protect yourself.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the rise in robberies at gas stations in Connecticut and the time criminal activity is most likely to occur.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, discusses a mass shooting in the Czech Republic near a university, making it the worst mass shooting in the country’s history.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses a mass shooting event on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, campus as news broke the shooter was down and the campus was being secured.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses how police and other law enforcement agencies respond to an active shooter.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, and Kenneth Gray, a senior lecturer of homeland security, criminal justice, and emergency management, discuss the heightened security alerts across the country, sharing some important advice when traveling for the holidays.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a criminal justice lecturer, discusses some places on high-alert and why citizens should remain vigilant in reporting suspicious activity to the authorities.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the border crossing from the U.S. into Canada, where a speeding vehicle hit a median, became airborne and crashed into a security checkpoint, causing an explosion, and raising concerns about potential terrorism.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the explosion of a vehicle on a bridge at the Canadian border with Niagara Falls, as heightened security alerts were issued nationwide.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses an incident in which a Secret Service agent fired their weapon after three people tried to break into their car at the home of President Joe Biden’s granddaughter.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the investigation of a Secret Service agent who discharged their gun on attempted carjackers at the home of President Joe Biden’s granddaughter.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the response after a civilian aircraft entered restricted airspace in the area of President Joe Biden’s home in Delaware.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the manhunt for a mass shooter who was seen in surveillance videos opening fire in a bowling alley and a bar in Maine, killing 18 people.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments on body camera footage released by the Connecticut Office of the Inspector General of a police-involved shooting in Hartford.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, explains why it is helpful for officers to know if a weapon is involved when responding to a call.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the video released by the Connecticut Office of the Inspector General of a woman firing a gun in the lobby of the Bristol Police Department and how the officers handled the situation.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the arraignment of a man accused of participating in the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a criminal justice lecturer, discusses the process that former President Donald Trump will go through as he surrenders to authorities at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia, including a mug shot.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the planning and security surrounding former President Donald Trump's arrival in Atlanta to surrender at the Fulton County Jail.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses why cameras don’t monitor the West Wing, live with Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere, after the Secret Service closed their investigation without finding who left cocaine in the White House.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses the Secret Service concluding its investigation into cocaine being found at the White House, with no one held accountable.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses the Secret Service’s investigation into being cocaine found in the White House and their decision to close the investigation.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses the investigation by the Secret Service into cocaine being found in the West Wing and them reaching a dead end in finding a suspect.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses the Secret Service's decision to close the investigation into finding who brought cocaine into the White House, with a panel of guests on The Hill.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses the end of the Secret Service’s investigation into who brought cocaine into the White House.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses how a bag of cocaine was found in the West Wing of the White House by the Secret Service.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses how a bag of cocaine was found in the West Wing of the White House by the Secret Service.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments on the limited number of people who can tour the West Wing, where the Secret Service discovered a bag of cocaine in a cubby.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments on the limited number of people who can tour the West Wing, where the Secret Service discovered a bag of cocaine in a cubby.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments that the discovery of cocaine in the White House may lead to new security protocol and procedure changes for the Secret Service.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments that the discovery of cocaine in the White House may lead to new security protocol and procedure changes for the Secret Service.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses how the Secret Service will investigate a bag of cocaine found in the White House and who may have brought it there.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses a recent gang sweep arrest that uncovered minors recruited and involved in violent felonies.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses some of the security protocols surroundin g a Miami courthouse for the arraignment of former President Donald Trump.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the security protection around a federal courthouse where former President Donald Trump will be arraigned and the harassment of WNBA star Brittany Griner at a Dallas airport.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the federal indictment charges against former President Donald Trump and revising the policy on possessing classified documents when public officials leave political office.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the importance of parents and caregivers being aware, monitoring social media accounts for young children and teens, and having conversations about the potential dangers of predators online.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, suggests parents and caregivers should monitor the social media accounts of young children and teens, as they can be lured into dangerous situations by online predators.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, comments that the criminal case against former President Donald Trump will likely continue into 2024 at the start of heavy campaigning for the presidential election.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, comments from outside the Manhattan Court House on the security details surrounding the area, as former President Donald Trump entered his plea of not guilty to charges of falsifying business records and conspiracy.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments in front of the New York City Court House, where former President Donald Trump will be arraigned in what will be an unprecedented indictment.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses the unprecedented steps and security process in Manhattan following the indictment of former President Donald Trump.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses the process for security for former President Donald Trump after being indicted on a criminal matter in Manhattan.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discussed the upcoming arraignment of former President Donald Trump, saying there is 'no playbook' to ensure this security event to go off seamlessly and securely.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses the process involved in the indictment of former President Donald Trump and what may happen next week.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, says it will be a historic event if former President Donald Trump is indicted on criminal charges in New York.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about the possible indictment of former President Donald Trump, which he says is 'unprecedented territory.'
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the possibility of an indictment against former U.S. President Donald Trump, calling it an unprecedented situation for the country and the law enforcement community.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the role of the Secret Service if former President Donald Trump is indicted by a Manhattan district attorney.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, says travelers should be situationally aware during spring break vacations, as four Americans crossing the border were kidnapped, and tragically, two died in Mexico.
In the Media
Robert McDonald and Melissa Whitson discuss the rise in weapons found in high schools and elem entary schools in Connecticut, offering some advice and warning signs for parents, students, and teachers. McDonald is a lecturer in criminal justice, and Whitson is a professor of psychology.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, says it is important for parents to talk about situations happening at school with their children, following a coach being arrested and accused of videotaping female students in their locker room.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses the importance of keeping weapons out of sight from children after an uptick in schools reporting the confiscation of guns and knives from students on school grounds across Connecticut.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, comments on the trial of Alex Murdaugh, who is accused of murdering his family in an attempt to cover up millions of dollars of debt.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about the latest developments in the Idaho student murder investigation and how the police kept the suspect under surveillance in this high-profile case.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses a case where a 20-year-old man who wasn’t an enrolled student was living in a Stanford dorm on and off for a year before finally being removed from the campus, but students were not reporting this.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the person who is now in custody for the murder of four University of Idaho students.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the recent developments in the murder investigation of four University of Idaho students.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments on the professionalism of the Secret Service detail that protects the presidency, after allegations that President Biden said he does not trust some of the agents.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, comments that the family of the victims in Idaho and the police are fatigued as they all want to have this crime solved.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses how five New Haven police officers will undergo the same process as anyone else in court after being charged in the handling of a man who became paralyzed while in police custody.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments that law enforcement is taking measured steps to put together timelines and evidence as part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of four college students from the University of Idaho.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, says that although the community may seek an immediate resolution of the murder of four University of Idaho students, no one wants this solved more than those investigating this case to bring forward the truth about what happened.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a criminal justice lecturer, discusses how security details work with local law enforcement agencies in preparation for dignitaries, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, on their visit to Boston for months before their arrival.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, advises students and parents to get back to basics on safety discussions.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, says parents should talk to their children about what to do if they feel unsafe while out in their neighborhoods.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the rise in threats to politicians and their families.
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Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about the shooting of three police officers who were ambushed responding to a domestic violence call.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the protections consumers should use when meeting in person to finalize an online sales transaction, following an armed robbery over the weekend.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about how staff and parents can help keep children safe at school in part one of a five-part series.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about how staff and parents can help keep children safe at school in part two of a five-part series.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about how staff and parents can help keep children safe at school in part three of a five-part series.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about how staff and parents can help keep children safe at school in part four of a five-part series.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about how staff and parents can help keep children safe at school in the final part of a five-part series.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about the heightened security in London for the world leaders arriving for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, says it’s important to lock doors and windows and advises the public to be proactive with protecting themselves.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, talks about the importance of transparency in the investigations of police officers who responded to an active shooter at the elementary school in Uvalde.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, discusses why a special master will be appointed to review the documents taken from former President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago home.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses some of the materials the FBI seized from former President Trump's home while executing a search warrant.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, comments on the challenges law enforcement has trying to monitor social media platforms for credible threats that could lead to violence.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, talks about a possible rise in campus crimes across the country as students return for the fall semester.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the FBI’s execution of a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about how the execution of the search warrant by the FBI and how they worked with the Secret Service agents that protect former President Donald Trump.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the FBI’s execution of a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the FBI’s execution of a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about the search warrant executed by the FBI on former President Trump’s home in Mar-A-Lago, describing the action as unprecedented.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, explains what sextortion is and how parents can help their teens avoid this trap.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about the video release of showing the response of police officers who rushed to the scene of a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses Valley Transit Authority mass shooting in 2021 by a disgruntled employee that left nine people dead and the recent arrest of another VTA employee for an alleged threat of gun violence over a company policy.
In the Media
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, says whistle-blowing and unauthorized disclosures are two completely different terms used when confidential information is revealed.
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Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about the security concerns across the country after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
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Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, discusses the need to find a bi-partisan solution as the number of mass shootings is reaching epidemic proportions.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about security at hospitals in the aftermath of mass shootings across the country, including one at a medical building in Tulsa.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, senior lecturer of criminal justice, says the public should wait for all of the facts to come in before judging the police response to the mass shooting in Texas.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a senior lecturer of criminal justice, discusses steps that can be taken to protect schools and students’ and teachers’ safety.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a senior lecturer in criminal justice, talks about the recent mass shooting in Texas and what may be done to help prevent this in the future.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, senior lecturer of criminal justice, comments on a plot the FBI uncovered to assassinate former President George W. Bush over the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses efforts by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department to recruit more deputies.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, talks about what goes into providing security at a major sports event such as the Super Bowl and how the trucker group protesting could impact the game.
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Robert McDonald, a lecturer in criminal justice, talks about the similarities of counterfeiting money and check washing.
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Robert McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, talks about the events of January 6, 2021, and what the term insurrection means.
In the Media
Robert McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, comments on how charges of wire fraud can be used in the prosecuting of fraudulent transactions.
In the Media
Robert 'Bobby' McDonald, lecturer of criminal justice, comments on the rise in school incidents throughout Connecticut.