Michael J. McCarthy is a retired major general in the United States Air Force.
A native of Niagara, Wisconsin, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
McCarthy joined the Air Force in 1967 and later served in the Vietnam War.
In 1982, he was assigned to The Pentagon and in 1986 he entered the National War College.
He became director of plans and policy of the United States European Command before being assigned for a fourth time to The Pentagon.