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Download Kurt's federal resume here: Download my Résume.

Kurt's Biography

Kurt McCarthy is a McCain Strategic Defense Fellow currently working for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. In this capacity Mr. McCarthy provides program management and direction for Total Force Fitness (TFF) and the Building Healthy Military Communities (BHMC) pilot program. More specifically through data modernization, interpretability of network systems, and bringing a fresh approach from a line unit company grade officer’s perspective. Kurt’s main priority is to facilitate a major acquisition to bring TFF back to personnel and readiness and draft policy to create a nutrition cell at the GS15 level that will have national oversight of nutrition based programs within the DoD.

Prior to his current rotation, Mr. McCarthy worked with the Force Safety and Occupational Health Department updating 3 pertinent issuances, DoDI 6055.01 (Safety and Occupational Health), DoDI 6055.07 (Mishap Notification, Investigation, Reporting, and Record-Keeping), and DoDI 6055.19 (Aviation Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment Programs). He also was an active member of both the Safety Information Management Working Group (SIMWG) and Military Injury Working Group (MIWG) to improve how the MILDEPs track information and large data that is utilized in DoD issuances to improve force readiness and cultivate a safe working environment.

Before becoming a McCain Fellow, Kurt was an active duty Army medical officer. He has held positions such as a Medical Platoon Leader, Medical Operations Officer, and Rear-Detachment Commander in the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Kurt has helped prepare his company for deployment to Kuwait and facilitated medical operations for six Quick Reaction Force Missions during a NORTHCOM rotation. Mr. McCarthy provided oversight for up to 550 soldiers and a hand receipt of 250 million dollars in battery assets. Due to Kurt’s outstanding leadership, he received numerous awards and ranked among the best within his peers during his time in service. Kurt is an empathic leader, who wholeheartedly believes that leadership is paramount for the success of the department. He aims to give employees a sense of comradery to lead a diverse work-force to collaborate towards and surpass common measurable goals and forecasts.

Kurt and his team of medics after winning the Best Medic Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia!