Arthur R. Bryant is a native of Bossier City, Louisiana where he attended public schools in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. He graduated from high school with honors and was inducted into the National Honor Society.

Mr. Bryant attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he was a 1975 Magna cum laude graduate, with a BS Degree in Agronomy (Plant and Soil Science). He also holds a Master of Public Administration from Auburn University in Alabama.

Mr. Bryant is a 35 year veteran of the USDA Forest Service, where he currently serves as a Director of Homeland Security, in Washington, DC. He has held numerous leadership positions in the Forest Service, and has worked in Louisiana, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio and Washington DC.

He is a member of several professional and civic organizations and is an active member of the Mount Ennon Baptist church in Fort Washington, MD., where he serves on the Stewardship Committee and sings in 2 choirs. Mr. Bryant is also a Life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Mr. Bryant is married and resides with his wife, Carolyn Mackey-Bryant, in Fort Washington, MD. He is the proud father of two daughters; Rachel, who is a 2003 Phi Beta Kappa inductee and Magna cum laude graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, with a degree in Psychology and is now a Ph. D student in Clinical Psychology ; and Bathsheba, who is a 2008 honor graduate of Spelman with a degree in Economics, and is employed by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Mr. Bryant also has one daughter by marriage, Megan Ryles, 31and an 8 year old grandson, Collin Ryles.

His hobbies include cooking and entertaining family and friends, hanging out with his daughters and grandson, walking, hiking, fishing and camping.