Florida Governor Jeb Bush appointed McDonough after Secretary Jimmy V. Crosby resigned amidst a corruption scandal.

[1] McDonough attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in addition to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated in 1969.

He also served as an associate professor of political science and international affairs at the U.S. Military Academy, as an analyst with the Defense Nuclear Agency, and as a detailee with the U.S. State Department.

"[4] He continued to root out corruption and in 2007, amidst an alleged prisoner 'beating party' at Hendry Correctional Institution, McDonough fired 20 officials involved.

[5] He is the author of several books, including Platoon Leader, a memoir about his experience in the Vietnam War, which was also loosely adapted into movie with the same name.