Col. Joseph A. McCarthy, Director, Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization

Colonel Joe McCarthy currently serves as the Director of the Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization.

A native of Roselle, New Jersey, enlisted in the U.S. Army following the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. He was commissioned from the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School in 2002 as an Infantry Officer, and later branch transferred to Aviation in 2006.

Prior to his current position, he served as the Chief, Commanding General’s Initiate Group at the United States Aviation Center of Excellence, Battalion Commander of the 4-3 Assault Helicopter Battalion in 3rd Infantry Division, and Lead Speechwriter and Special Assistant to the 19th and 20th Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His other assignments include service in the 25th Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Headquarters, Department of the Army.

Colonel McCarthy deployed three times to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF): once with the 25th Infantry Division as a Rifle Platoon Leader (2004-2005), and twice with the 101st Airborne Division as a Flight Troop Commander (2008-2009), Brigade Operations Officer, and Brigade Executive Officer (2014).

His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Aviation Captain’s Career Course, Command and General Staff College, UH-60M Instructor Pilot Course, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, UH-60 A/L, and M Qualification Courses, and the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Evasion-Level C Course. He has also held fellowships from the School of Advanced Military Studies and Center for New American Security and was a Joint Chiefs of Staff/Office of the Secretary of Defense/Army Staff Intern.

Colonel McCarthy holds a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Master’s degree in Public Policy Management from Georgetown University, and Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Rutgers University.

He has earned various awards and decorations commensurate with his positions of responsibility and time of service to include: the Bronze Star Medal (2OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (1OLC), Air Medal for Valor, Air Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Action Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and Army Staff Identification Badge. He is also the recipient of the Aubrey “Red” Newman Award, Order of St. Michael (Bronze Award), and Order of St. George Award.

Colonel McCarthy is married to the former Kristen Maurer, an attorney, and has two daughters, Aubry (14) and Alexandra (9).