Rear Admiral Bill McCarthy, USN (retired) spent the majority of his Navy career flying the E-2C Hawkeye. Following squadron command and participation in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he completed the Navy's nuclear power training program. He subsequently served as the Commanding Officer of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).
As a flag officer, he served as Commander, GEORGE WASHINGTON Carrier Strike Group/Commander, Carrier Strike Group EIGHT with additional responsibility as Commander, Task Force FIFTY while conducting operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate, his shore duty assignments included the Naval Air Test Center, the USNTPS faculty, Naval Air Systems Command and the Joint Staff. From July 2005 until May 2007, he commanded the Navy's Operational Test and Evaluation Force.
He retired from active duty in May 2007 having flown over thirty different military aircraft, accumulating over 4,000 flight hours and 700 arrested landings. His decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service medal. In June 2007, Mr. McCarthy joined the professional staff of the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. In September 2007, he was detailed to OSD-DOT&E as Deputy Director, Net-centric and Space Systems/Missile Defense under the Inter-governmental Personnel Act. In January 2010, he was detailed to the Navy as the Deputy Director, Operational Test and Evaluation Force.