Colonel McCarthy currently serves as the Commanding Officer of The Basic School. Prior to arriving at The Basic School he served as the Branch Head, Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA). He graduated from Maryville University in St. Louis, MO in 1995 and enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 1996. After graduating boot camp from MCRD Parris Island, he attended the School of Infantry and was assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines as an 0311.
Sergeant McCarthy was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in April 2000. From 2001 to 2004, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Marines where he served as a Forward Observer, Guns Platoon Commander, Liaison Officer, Battery Executive Officer and Battalion S-3A/FDO. During this tour, he deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF I). In June 2004, Captain McCarthy was assigned as a fire support and maneuver coyote, Tactical Training Exercise Control Group (TTECG) aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, CA.
In July 2007, he was reassigned to the Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) in Quantico where he was a distinguished graduate. Following EWS, Captain McCarthy served with 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines as the Operations Officer, Logistics Officer and Fox Battery Commander. During his tour with 2/10, Fox Battery attached to 5th Battalion, 10th Marines, Brigade Headquarters Group, Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan and deployed to Camp Leatherneck as part of the International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) surge into southern Afghanistan from March to November 2009.
Major McCarthy served as the Commanding Officer, Headquarters Battery, 10th Marine Regiment from December 2010 to June 2011. From June 2011 to June 2012, Major McCarthy attended the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he was a distinguished graduate and the recipient of the College’s Excellence in Joint Service Award. From June 2012 to June 2013, Major McCarthy attended the U.S. Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS). From July 2013 to July 2016, Major McCarthy served as a MAGTF planner in the I Marine Expeditionary Force. During this tour, he deployed with the Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, Regional Command Southwest to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from January to November 2014.
From 2016 to 2017 he was the I MEF Deputy Fires and Effects Coordinator. From June 2017 to June 2019, Lieutenant Colonel McCarthy served as the commanding officer 3d Battalion, 11th Marines in 29 Palms, CA. He served as the Inspector General for the First Marine Division from June 2019 to June 2020. From June 2020 to June 2021, LtCol McCarthy attended the Marine Corps War College where he was a distinguished graduate. He served as the combat arms lieutenant colonels’ monitor, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, MMOA from June 2021 to June 2022.
Colonel McCarthy holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from Marine Corps University, a Master of Arts in Operational Security from the Command and General Staff College’s School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Webster University of St. Louis, Missouri.