Secretary of the Army

Ryan D. McCarthy was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate and appointed as the 33rd Under Secretary of the Army, Aug. 1, 2017. He served as the Acting Secretary of the Army from his appointment until Nov. 16, 2017. The Under Secretary of the Army is the Secretary of the Army's senior civilian assistant and principal adviser on matters relating to the management and operation of the Army, which includes development and integration of Army programs and budget. He is responsible for the effective and efficient organization of the Army's operations and initiatives for the business transformation of the Army.

Prior to his confirmation, McCarthy worked for Lockheed Martin Corporation in sequential vice president roles responsible for the sustainment, customer solutions and program integration of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and the company's global security policy.

McCarthy previously served as the special assistant to the 22nd Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, under Presidents Bush and Obama, where he advised as the secretary's representative to the White House, Congress, National Security Agencies and other Foreign Governments. He also served as the special assistant to the under secretary of defense for Acquisition Technology and Logistics and was responsible for policy development and coordination with the joint staff and uniformed services acquisition leaders on procurement and supply chain management policies. He also served as a professional staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations. Prior to his legislative experience, from 2002 to 2005, he worked for the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation as their Vice President of Commercial Financing.

McCarthy proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1997 to 2002 and was involved in combat operations in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Special Operations Command.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Virginia Military Institute and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

McCarthy and his wife have been married for over 10 years and have one daughter.

40th Chief of Staff of the Army

General James C. McConville assumed duties as the 40th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, on August 9, 2019 after most recently serving as the 36th Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.

He is a native of Quincy, Massachusetts and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He holds a Master’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and was a National Security Fellow at Harvard University in 2002.

General McConville’s command assignments include the Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) where he also served as the Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force-101, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan; Deputy Commanding General (Support) of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) where he also served as the Deputy Commanding General (Support) of Combined Joint Task Force-101, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan; Commander of 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq; Commander of 2nd Squadron, 17th Calvary Regiment 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); and Commander of C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division (Light). 

His key staff assignments include the U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1; Chief of Legislative Liaison; Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army; G-3 for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); J5 Strategic Planner for the United States Special Operations Command; S-3 for the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade; S-3 for 5th Squadron, 9th Cavalry; and S-3 for Flight Concepts Division. 

General McConville is the Senior Army Aviator qualified in the AH-64D Longbow Apache, the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, the AH-6, AH-1 Cobra and other aircraft. His awards and decorations include two Distinguished Service Medals, three Legions of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Master Army Aviator Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.