Colonel Carey is a native of Kingsville, Missouri. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from the University of Central Missouri in 1998 and a Master of Arts degree in Management and Leadership from Webster University in 2014. His military education includes Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Aviation Officer Basic Course, Aviation Officer Captain’s Career Course, Intermediate Level Education, and the Advanced Operations Course.
He enlisted in the Army in 1992, attending Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training for Multiple Launch Rocket Systems at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served three years of active duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and at Bamberg, Germany. He joined the Missouri National Guard as a member of the 1138th Military Police Company in 1995. He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School and branched into Aviation in 2000. Before he arrived at Texas A&M for the USAWC Fellowship, COL Carey was assigned as the Missouri National Guard State Army Aviation Officer. He served as Commander of the Charlie Company 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, Delta Company 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, and 1-135th Assault Helicopter Battalion. Colonel Carey held several other military assignments, including Executive Officer, 35th Combat Aviation Brigade; S3 Operations Officer, 35th Combat Aviation Brigade; Airspace Management Officer, 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; and S2 Intelligence Officer, 35th Combat Aviation Brigade. He deployed as the S2 with the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade to support Operation Spartan Shield from May 2012 to June 2013. Colonel Carey deployed again as the S3 with the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade from May 2018 to June 2019 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield. He serves the Missouri National Guard full-time as the Commander of Army Aviation Support Facility Number One, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.
Colonel Carey has received several military awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Medal with One Bronze Service Star, Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Master Army Aviator Badge. He is qualified in the TH-67, OH58 A/C, AH64A Apache, AH64D Apache, UH-60 A/L Blackhawk, and UH-60M Blackhawk. He is qualified as an instructor pilot in the AH64A Apache, AH64D Apache, UH-60 A/L, and UH-60M Blackhawk and Maintenance Test Pilot in the AH64A Apache.
Colonel Carey resides with his wife, Michelle Carey, and three children, Casey, Aidan, and Ian Carey, in Kingsville, Missouri.
