Emily McCarthy

Former Central Intelligence Agency case officer, Emily McCarthy, served her country on the frontlines of the Global War on Terrorism. In the years following 9/11, she operated in war-torn Africa where she was responsible for recruiting human sources and collecting intelligence in the interest of national security.

Emily did not originally set out to join the CIA. In 2001, she earned a BSLA from Georgetown University’s Faculty of Languages and Linguistics (French and Spanish). After graduation, she spent a year working with marginalized populations as a volunteer for Catholic Relief Services in Durán, Ecuador. Upon returning to the United States, she started down the path as a Spanish teacher in her hometown of Jacksonville, FL. It was during this time that she reconnected with old friend and now husband, Jason McCarthy, who encouraged Emily to apply to the CIA while he was going through the selection process to become a Green Beret.

By summer 2006, Emily was a newly-minted case officer headed to work in French-speaking West Africa. Her first assignment was to Chad where she met with Sudanese rebel leaders to discuss the Darfur Peace Agreement. She was later stationed to Côte d’Ivoire and worked against high value targets of interest while monitoring the Ivorian peace process and elections.

Following their time serving in the US Government, Emily and Jason founded GORUCK, an American brand with roots in Intelligence and Special Forces. Emily’s goal is to empower women with the knowledge needed to confidently travel anywhere in the world. Her experience, coupled with excellence, toughness, and adaptability, will hopefully inspire others to serve a greater cause. Emily and Jason have made their home and headquarters in Jacksonville Beach, FL with their three children and chocolate labrador, Monster (President of GORUCK Nation).

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