James P. McCarthy is a retired United States Air Forcegeneral. His last assignment before retirement was as Deputy Commander in Chief of the United States European Command. In retirement, McCarthy has served on a number of corporate and government advisory boards, as well as serving as the ARDI Professor of National Security at the United States Air Force Academy.
The general transferred to the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in May 1970 as chief of the Operations Plans Division. In December 1970 he became commander of the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Da Nang. He flew 152 combat missions in the F-4E Phantom II. McCarthy returned to the United States in June 1971 and was assigned to the Office of the Director of Programs, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington D.C.. That same year, he graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was responsible for basing Air Force units both overseas and in the United States. In August 1973, he entered the National War College and, after graduating in August 1974, became the vice commandant of cadets at the United States Air Force Academy. Part of his responsibilities included directing the academy's preparation for the initial admission of women in July 1976. He received a master of science degree in international affairs from George Washington University in 1974. He transferred to the 97th Bombardment Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas., in March 1977 as vice commander and became commander in September 1978. In March 1979, the general was named commander of the 93rd Bombardment Wing at Castle Air Force Base, California. In May 1980, he returned to Air Force headquarters as special assistant for M-X matters, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition. He was responsible for the M-X program and directed the program through most of its concept formulation phase. In October 1982, he became the director of legislative liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington D.C.. In that position, he advised the Secretary and all principal civilian and military officials of the Department of the Air Force concerning legislative affairs and congressional relations. In July 1984, he transferred to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where he served as deputy chief of staff for plans, developing policies, programs and requirements for the command. The general assumed command of 8th Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, in January 1987, and was responsible for SAC operations in the eastern half of the United States, Europe and the Middle East. He was next assigned as deputy chief of staff for programs and resources, Air Force headquarters, in March 1988, responsible for Air Force programming, manpower and foreign military sales. He assumed his final position as commander of the United States European Command in September 1989. He was promoted to general on October 1, 1989, with same date of rank. He retired on November 30, 1992.
