Engineering Science
Alumni Profile
Marquay R. Byrd
Coastal Carolina University Class of 2017
Marquay R. Byrd is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. and a graduate of Gaffney Senior High School in Gaffney, S.C. He earned a Bachelor of Science in applied physics with a concentration in engineering science and a minor in mathematics from Coastal Carolina University in 2017. While a student at CCU, he worked as a resident assistant in University Housing and a lab assistant in the physics department, and during his senior year he worked at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aviation & Aerospace Technology as a research assistant. In January 2018, he enrolled in the University of South Carolina to pursue of a master’s degree in aerospace engineering.
In 2018, he was selected for Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and was offered a position as a cryptologic warfare officer. He received his commission in the United States Navy in October 2018. He is a graduate of the Division Officer Leadership Course, the Information Warfare Basic Course and the Cryptologic Warfare Basic Course.
For his initial assignment, he was assigned to the Cryptologic Warfare Activity (CWS-66) in Fort Meade, Md. He has been a battle watch captain at the Maryland Fleet Intelligence Operation Center and is currently a senior watch officer at the Computer Network Operations Center. Byrd was one of six officers to be selected for the Space Warfighters Preparatory Course at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado in August 2020.
He is an active member of the National Naval Officers Association and an active affiliate with Suitland, Maryland’s High School Navy Junior ROTC Program.
He is a member of the Engineering Science External Advisory Board at Coastal Carolina University.