Rutgers Alumna Promoted to Brigadier General

U. S. Army Reserves Brig. Gen. Cindy Saladin-Muhammad says Rutgers gave her a “strong foundation.”

Cindy Saladin-Muhammad holds several singular distinctions.

She serves as Deputy Commanding General of the 807th Medical Command and recently was promoted to brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserves, one of only a handful of African American females to attain that rank in the medical field of the military. 

Saladin-Muhammad NCAS'91, SHP'91, her husband Sayyed Muhammad, who was in Army Special Operations, and her son Air Force Tech Sergeant Reshard Saladin have a combined 75 years of U.S. military service. 

In addition, she is a Six Sigma master black belt and a resiliency coach, and has held leadership positions in an international pharmaceutical corporation.

Back at home in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, she also serves on the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA) Board of Directors.

“Rutgers University had a significant impact on my career and my life,” she says. “The university's diverse academic programs, emphasis on critical thinking, and commitment to community engagement gave me a strong foundation for pursuing my career goals in the private and military sectors.” 

All these achievements began with her desire to be a toxicologist, a dream she realized after earning two Rutgers bachelor’s degrees—one in clinical laboratory sciences from Rutgers University–Newark and one in toxicology from what then was known as the Rutgers School of Health Professions. 

After graduating from high school in Newark, New Jersey, she joined the Army in 1984, which gave her opportunities to travel and learn. She enlisted as a private, intending to complete her initial entry obligation of four years and perhaps be promoted once or twice.

“My goal was to obtain funding to further my studies after high school,” she says. “I never imagined a day I would be a brigadier general.”

Her four years in the Army positioned her with a “less-than-traditional start” to college life, but she was ready for the challenge. Rutgers offered her an affordable, close-to-home opportunity to earn a degree in toxicology while working and being near her family.

 “I knew at quite a young age I wanted to be a toxicologist, and I knew Rutgers offered toxicology,” she says. “The added benefit was that this outstanding school was minutes from where I lived in New Jersey. I needed help from my family to complete school, so being close to home was critical.”

Giving Back to Rutgers

After traveling the globe to lead military operations, she sits at Rutgers, not in a classroom, but in a board room with her fellow RUAA board members, poised to offer her knowledge and expertise.

“I have not always been able to give back to Rutgers—my heart always wanted to, but life always got in the way,” Saladin-Muhammad says. “Serving on the board has allowed me to pay it forward. Networking and mentoring have been instrumental to my career, and the networking, engagement, and mentorship opportunities available via my involvement with RUAA can be invaluable in shaping a successful career for others.”

Veterans Day Gratitude

Her gratitude to her alma mater parallels her appreciation of her military service, and the service and sacrifice of her fellow veterans. Veterans Day is a day for this country to honor and express gratitude to those who have served in the Armed Forces, she says, and a time to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of veterans dedicated to protecting the United States and upholding its values. 

“Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on my time in the military and the contributions of all I have served with over my career,” she says. “We seldom take the time to reflect, and Veterans Day allows that. A military career is something to be proud of, and I love every opportunity to thank Veterans for their service.”