Col Michael McCarthy

Mike McCarthy, a native of Cortlandt Manor, New York, earned his commission in December 1996 after completing Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. Following The Basic School and the Air Support Control Officer Course, he was assigned to Marine Air Support Squadron 3 at Camp Pendleton, serving in the Direct Air Support Center. He later joined 3d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (3d LAAD Bn), where he served as Platoon Commander, Battery Executive Officer, and Battery Commander, deploying with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard USS Bonhomme Richard. During this tour he graduated from the MAWTS-1 Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course and was promoted to captain.

In 2002, Captain McCarthy was assigned to U.S. Space Command J37 at Peterson AFB and subsequently to U.S. Strategic Command J37 following the commands’ merger. In 2004 he deployed to Balad, Iraq, as an unmanned aircraft system mission commander in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He later joined Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38 at MCAS Miramar, deploying twice to Al Asad, Iraq, as a Senior Air Coordinator in the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) Tactical Air Command Center. Promoted to major in 2007, he served as Squadron Operations Officer.

From 2008 to 2011, Major McCarthy served at MAWTS-1 as C3 Department Head, completing six WTI courses and training 142 C3 WTIs. He then deployed with HMM-364 (REIN), 15th MEU, aboard USS Peleliu before serving as Executive Officer of 3d LAAD Bn. Selected for lieutenant colonel, he served as Executive Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 50, deploying to Bahrain.

From 2015 to 2017, Lieutenant Colonel McCarthy commanded 3d LAAD Bn, earning the 2016 Marine Corps Aviation Association Command and Control Unit of the Year award. He later completed a National Security Fellowship at Harvard University’s JFK School of Government and served at Headquarters Marine Corps as C4 Department Deputy Director, where he was promoted to colonel.

From 2020 to 2022, Colonel McCarthy commanded Marine Air Control Group 28 at MCAS Cherry Point, deploying to Norway with Marine Rotational Force Europe and to Lithuania as Deputy Commander, Task Force Baltic Watchtower, in support of NATO Air Policing following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He assumed duties as Aviation Expeditionary Enablers Branch Head in June 2022.

Colonel McCarthy holds a bachelor’s degree from Pace University, a master’s degree from Creighton University, and is a graduate of MIT’s Seminar XXI. His decorations include the Legion of Merit (gold star), Meritorious Service Medal (gold star), Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three gold stars).