After earning football and ROTC Scholarships, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps in 1989.

[2] He is a graduate of the Ordnance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the College of Naval Command and Staff where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, and the Air War College where he earned a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies.

[3][4] McBride's first assignment was as the Maintenance Platoon Leader of Company C, 27th Main Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

[5] Following graduation from the Ordnance Officer Advanced Course and promotion to the rank of captain, he served as Battalion S-1 for the 23rd Support Group at Camp Humphreys, Korea.

Following promotion to the rank of major, and attendance at the Naval Command and Staff College in Newport, Rhode Island, McBride was assigned as the S-4, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.