Cedric Carrington
Colonel Cedric Carrington retired from the Army after three decades of service. A native of Tampa, FL, he graduated from Hillsborough High School and then matriculated to Florida A&M University where he received a Baccalaureate Degree and a Distinguished Military Graduate commission in the United States Army.
Carrington served the nation as an Army officer from 1994 – 2022. He has served with the elite 75th RangerRegiment, the heralded 82nd Airborne Division, and in the Republic of Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division.Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, he deployed to Afghanistan, and over the course of his career, he participatedin five combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq with over 40 months in combat as an Airborne Infantry and Special Operations officer. He has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal three times for his combat actions.
Carrington’s civilian education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and two Master’s degrees in Military Studies andStrategic Studies. His military education includes the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Combined Arms Services and Staff School, Infantry Officer Basic, Advanced and Pre-Command Courses, Airborne, Jumpmaster, and Ranger schools.
Carrington’s commitment to social action and his contribution to the community as a coach, teacher and mentor dates back to his teenage years. In 1986, he began working as a lifeguard at the Cyrus Green neighborhood pool and provided free swim lessons to neighborhood kids. While at FAMU, he worked as a lifeguard and gave free swim lessons to local community kids over the summermonths. In 1996, while assigned to the National Capital Region, he returned to his mentoring roots. Upon completing a 30-hour certification course jointly sponsored by the District of Columbia Superior Court and YMCA, he began a lifelong commitment to mentoring a young man from Northeast DC. Their relationship has flourished over the past 28 years. While assigned to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, he routinely visited every school he attended. He provided unprecedented access to students from his Alma Maters, regularly engaged his high school JROTC detachment, and provided a county-wide keynote speech on leadership and mentorship.
Carrington has played sports his entire life, focusing his efforts on physical fitness, health and wellness awareness. He has participated in or sponsored over 150 competitive races including triathlons and marathons. In 2020, to bring awareness to health, fitness and philanthropy, he created the Kappa Cares Virtual Multi-Sport Fitness Challenge, raising over $12,000 for scholarships over a 2-year campaign span while raising physical health awareness across a diverse demographic.
At each military assignment location, Carrington connected with and mentored community youth, he has been nationally recognized for community service and mentorship. In 2022, upon retirement, he returned home to Tampa and immediately plugged into the community. He currently serves as the Director of the Kappa Youth Development & Leadership League, mentoring 77 young men across the Metropolitan Tampa Bay area. He is actively involved in social justice as a member of the St. Peter Claver Catholic Church Social Justice Ministry and H.O.P.E. (Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality). He also activelyparticipates in the EnVision Resolution Barbershop Real Talk series.
Carrington is a life member of several organizations, including the FAMU National Alumni Association, FAMU Marching 100 Association, the ROCKs Inc, 555th (Triple Nickel) Airborne Association, Knights of Peter Claver (Herbert D. Carrington Council #379); and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. In 2008, he received the Bobby B. Burke National Service Award for his career-long professional development and mentorship. In 2015, he was named a 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment’s Distinguished Member for his performance in combat. In 2017, he received the Distinguished Alumnus designation from Florida A&M University and was inducted into Hillsborough High School’s Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was installed on Edison Elementary’s Legacy Wall, and in 2023, he was designated as a Distinguished Alumnus of St. Peter Claver Catholic School. He is married to Davina Carrington (retired Lieutenant Colonel) of Colonial Beach, VA.