Profile: Dennis M. McCarthy

Why He Matters

Dennis M. McCarthy coordinates all reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces, which include 1.2 million citizen soldiers who augment active-duty military forces during war and in national emergencies. McCarthy serves as the principal staff assistant to Defense secretary for all reserve matters and works closely with military generals on national-security issues. He oversees resources, training and deployments for the reserve, which have been an integral part of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. More than 230,000 reserve members have been called to active duty since 9/11.

A three-star retired military general, McCarthy was confirmed as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs on June 25, 2009. McCarthy, a Cleveland native, and his wife, Rosemary, have two sons: Sean, who serves in the Army National Guard Reserve, and Michael, who serves in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Path to Power

McCarthy began his military career fighting in Vietnam in 1967, fresh out of basic training. He returned from combat in 1969 to join the 25th Marine Regiment in Massachusetts. After promotion to major, McCarthy transferred to the reserves in 1978.

As a reserve officer, McCarthy held command posts at nearly every level of the Marine Corps. After heading a U.S. Joint Task Force in Chile in 1992, McCarthy was named commanding general of the Marine Corps Reserve Support Command until 1995. He was promoted to major general in 1996, and one year later became the first reserve general officer to command an active duty Marine Division.

“There is not an issue they’re going to face that he hasn’t dealt with personally,” Arnold Punaro, a retired two-star Marine general, said of McCarthy.

McCarthy’s military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with “V” device and the Combat Action Ribbon.

In June 2001, McCarthy was promoted to lieutenant general and became commander of the Marine Corps Reserve as it undertook its largest mobilization in history. McCarthy retired from active military duty in 2005 and became the executive director of the U.S. Reserve Officers Association, an advocacy organization dedicated to development and support of the reserves.

President Barack Obama nominated McCarthy as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs on May 19, 2009.

Academia and Law

McCarthy completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Dayton. Through the Marines Excess Leave Program, McCarthy was able to attend Capital University Law School in Ohio and receive his law degree in 1975.

From 1978 to 1999, McCarthy practiced as a civil trial lawyer in Ohio and was a faculty member at his alma mater. He would later draw on his background in law and academia, and his experience as editor of law magazine Ohio Trial, to author several articles on reserve and national guard issues. McCarthy is an attorney of counsel at the Ohio law firm Volkema Thomas.

The Issues

Employment

As Americans fought two lengthy wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. McCarthy made job security and competitive pay a top priority for the Armed Forces reserves. He called on businesses that employ reserves to pay the difference between military and civilian salaries, offer benefits during deployments, send care packages or even help the family cover household maintenance duties.

McCarthy helped launch a program in March 2009 that requires the government pay supplements to federal employees who have a drop in income after they are called up for reserve duty and must leave their jobs.

Family and Health Services

McCarthy has pushed for more programs that provide child care, financial aid and emotional support to families of deployed reserves.

“The sustainment of these family programs isn’t just a nicety. There is a direct connection in their success and our operational readiness and our ability to succeed in combat.” Daniel, Lisa, American Forces Press Service, “DoD recognizes best reserve component family programs,” April 16 2010

He helped implement a policy that gives reserves and their families 180 days advance notice of deployment, part of his policy for “judicious use” of the reserves. McCarthy has also pushed Congress to expand military health care benefits for reserves with illness or injury and their families.

Funding and Equipment

McCarthy has demanded upgrades in equipment and facilities to improve reserve training and expedite readiness. Because the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have deteriorated defense resources, McCarthy wants Congress to facilitate more shared use of equipment and facilities between the active military and the reserves.

Sources:

1. Capitol University Law School, “Capital University Law School to Graduate 198, Lt. General Dennis McCarthy to Deliver Commencement Address,” May 4 2010

2. Daniel, Lisa, American Forces Press Service, “DoD recognizes best reserve component family programs,” April 16 2010

3. Department of Defense Biography Detail, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis M. McCarthy

4. Losey, Stephen, Army Times, “Federal Employees get pay supplement when called up,” April 23 2009

5. McCarthy, Dennis M., Op-Ed Contributor, The San Francisco Examiner, “How Employers Can Help Warrior Citizens,” May 19 2010

6. Reserve Officers Association, Biography of Dennis McCarthy

7. Rivada Newtorks, About Lt. General Dennis M. McCarthy

8. Scully, Megan, National Journal Decision Makers: Profiles of Key Players In The Obama Administration, Dennis McCarthy

9. Testimony of the Honorable Dennis M. McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs before the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel on Reserve Component Programs, May 12 2010

10. Testimony of Lieutenant General Dennis M. McCarthy, United States Marine Corps Reserve Commander Marine Forces Reserve before the House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Total Forces United States House of Representatives regarding Reserve Component Transformation and Relieving the Stress on the Reserve Component March 31 2004

11. The White House Office of the Press Secretary, “President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts,” May, 12 2009