Col Michael D. McCarthy is the Commander and the Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) Director of the 5th Medical Group, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. He leads 300 medics who provide high quality medical and dental treatment to maximize expeditionary readiness at the DoD’s only military installation housing two legs of the nuclear triad and the largest Personnel Reliability Assurance Program (PRAP) in the DoD, serving 3,300 PRAP personnel. Col McCarthy oversees the provision of care to over 12,300 beneficiaries ensuring the delivery of the highest quality patient care, patient safety and customer service.
Col McCarthy received his commission in 2000 after completing his Master of Social Work at Fordham University. He served as a mental health first responder to the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. His duties have included Flight, Squadron and Deputy Group Commander. Additionally, he served as the Air Force Suicide Prevention Program Manager and Air Combat Command Mental Health Consultant where he wrote Air Force and DoD policy on mental health and suicide prevention. He also completed an Air Force Institute of Technology, civilian institution, Ph.D. fellowship. He has deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, Texas Christian University, Ft Worth, Texas
2000 Master of Social Work, Fordham University, New York, N.Y.
2002 Clinical Social Work Internship, Malcom Grow Medical Center, Andrews AFB, Md.
2004 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2007 Squadron Officer School, in residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2011 Doctor of Philosophy in social work, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas
2015 Air War College, by correspondence
2023 Master of Healthcare Administration, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Sep 01 – Jun 02, Clinical Social Work Intern, Andrews Air Force Base (AFB), Md.
2. Jun 02 – Oct 03, ADAPT Element Chief, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
3. Oct 03 – Aug 05, Family Advocacy Officer, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
4. Aug 05 – Aug 07, Family Advocacy Officer, Patrick AFB, Fla.
5. Aug 07 – Aug 10, Air Force Institute of Technology Student, Austin, Texas
6. Sep 10 – Sep 12, Air Force Suicide Prevention Program Manager, Pentagon, Va.
7. Sep 12 – May 15, Mental Health Flight Commander, Sheppard AFB, Texas
8. May 15 – May 16, Director of Psychological Health, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
9. May 16 – May 18, Mental Health Flight Commander, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
10. Jun 18 – Dec 18, Commander, 92d Medical Operations Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
11. Dec 18 – Jul 20, Commander, Deputy Group Commander, 92d Healthcare Operations Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
12. Jul 20 – Jun 24, Chief, Air Combat Command Mental Health Branch, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
13. Jun 24 – Jul 25, Deputy Group Commander, 374th Medical Group, Yokota AB, Japan
14. Jul 25 – present, MTF Director/Commander, 5th Medical Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Air and Space Recognition Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with two devices
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Air Force Company Grade Officer Social Worker of the Year
2013 Air Force Category III Biomedical Sciences Corps Clinician of the Year
2018 German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Silver)
PUBLICATIONS
McCarthy, M. & Thompson, S. (2010). Predictors of Trauma-Related Symptoms among Runaway Adolescents. Journal of Loss and
Trauma, 15(3), 212-227.
McCarthy, M. (2010). Clinical Interventions for Service Members Experiencing PTSD and Substance Abuse, Alcohol, Tobacco &
Other Drugs, 1, 9-12.
Holleran Steiker, L., McCarthy, M. & Downing, A. (2012). Special Topics -- Substance Abuse and the Military: An Interview with
Michael McCarthy and Alexander Downing. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 12(1), 111-116.
Conner, K., McCarthy, M., Bajorska, A., Caine, E. & Knox, K. (2012). Mood, Anxiety, and Substance-Use Disorders and Suicide Risk
in a Military Population Cohort, Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 42(6), 699-708.
Lavigne, J., McCarthy, M., Chapman, R., Petrilla, A. & Knox, K. (2012). Exposure to Prescription Drugs Labeled for Risk of Adverse
Effects of Suicidal Behavior or Ideation among 100 Air Force Personnel who Died by Suicide, 2006-2009, Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 42(5), 561-566.
McCarthy, M., Thompson, S. & Knox, K. (2012). Use of the Air Force Post-Deployment Health Reassessment for the Identification
of Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Public Health Implications for Suicide Prevention, American Journal of Public Health, 102(S1), 60-65.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American College of Healthcare Executives
(Current as of Aug 2025)