[1][3] He graduated from NOAA's Leadership Competencies Development Program and serves both formally and informally as a mentor.

[1] While in command of Reuben Lasker, Cary led a team which used a modern suite of instrumentation to study the ecosystem of the eastern Pacific Ocean from Mexico to Canada.

[3] During his time in the Leadership Competencies Development Program he completed a detail with the United States Coast Guard's Office of Cutter Forces that advanced a key NOAA facility initiative and built a partnership alliance with the U.S. Coast Guard and the United States Navy that remained in place as of 2020.

[3] Cary was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) on 22 November 2021 and began a tour of duty in Silver Spring, Maryland, that day[2] as deputy director, NOAA Commissioned Corps and deputy director, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.

On 1 August 2024 the United States Senate confirmed his appointment to succeed Vice Admiral Nancy Hann as Director, NOAA Commissioned Corps and Director, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.