Ryan McCarthy

Ryan McCarthy. He is an American business executive and former government official who served as the 24th United States Secretary of the Army from 2019 to 2021. A former United States Army officer and veteran of the War in Afghanistan, McCarthy later held senior roles at the defense contractor Lockheed Martin before his appointment to the Pentagon. His tenure focused on modernizing the United States Army and managing its response to domestic crises.

Early life and education

Ryan McCarthy was born around 1974 in Glenview, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He attended the Virginia Military Institute, a prominent senior military college, where he graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Following his commissioning, he served on active duty before pursuing further education. McCarthy later earned a Master of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park, which prepared him for his subsequent career in defense acquisition and management.

Military career

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army, McCarthy served with the 75th Ranger Regiment, an elite special operations force. He achieved the rank of First Lieutenant and saw combat during the early stages of the War in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks. His military service, which lasted from 1997 to 2002, provided him with direct operational experience that later informed his perspectives on defense procurement and soldier readiness during his time in the Pentagon.

Business career

After leaving active duty, McCarthy joined the global aerospace and defense corporation Lockheed Martin. He held several significant positions, including Vice President for the F-35 Lightning II program, where he managed aspects of the largest and most expensive weapons program in history for the United States Department of Defense. He also served as a staff director for the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs before returning to Lockheed Martin as a vice president focusing on sustainment operations, working closely with agencies like the Defense Logistics Agency.

Political career

McCarthy's government service began in 2006 as a professional staff member on the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was nominated by President Donald Trump to become the Under Secretary of the Army in 2017, a role he held until 2019. Following the resignation of Mark Esper, McCarthy was elevated to Acting United States Secretary of the Army and was formally confirmed to the position later that year. As Secretary, he oversaw the implementation of the Army Futures Command, managed the deployment of the District of Columbia National Guard during the January 6 United States Capitol attack, and spearheaded initiatives like the Integrated Visual Augmentation System.

Personal life

Ryan McCarthy is married to Kari McCarthy, and the couple has three children. He maintains a relatively private personal life, with public attention focused on his professional roles in Washington, D.C. and the defense industry. Following his tenure as United States Secretary of the Army, he returned to the private sector, with his career reflecting a consistent pattern of movement between high-level positions in defense contracting and federal service within the United States Department of Defense. Category:United States Secretaries of the Army Category:Virginia Military Institute alumni Category:Lockheed Martin people