Lt. Col. Quentin Daniel McCart was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in a military household with both mother and father serving in the Armed Services. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western Michigan University and then received a commission in November 2001 through United States Air Force Officer Training School. He graduated from Air Force Intelligence Officer School where he earned the distinguished Colonel Gerald E. Reynolds Award for most valuable contributor.
McCart was assigned to the Eighth Air Force, Barksdale, Louisiana where he served as the Flight Commander of Intelligence Readiness and Training. He deployed to Combined Air Operations Center, Saudi Arabia in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and IRAQI FREEDOM in 2003. He deployed to Qatar to support US Central Air Forces Commander (USCENTAF) during 2004 and again to Qatar during 2005 this time as the Intelligence Officer-in-Charge of the Joint Search and Rescue Center.
From Eighth Air Force, McCart transferred to Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina to serve as the Air Force Senior Analyst for Force Protection and Security Forces Squadron S2. During 2006 he deployed to Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq as Air Force Senior Intelligence Officer and Special Security Representative in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
McCart was honorably discharged from active duty in 2007. Following active duty, he held the rank of captain and served in the Inactive Ready Reserve, United States Air Force Reserve. During this period, he spent two years in the Department of Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency as a GS-13 Senior Intelligence Analyst for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and three years as a State Trooper on the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
In January 2011, McCart returned to active-duty status in the United States Army and completed the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course where he graduated on the Commandant’s List. He assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. His duties while at Fort Campbell included being assigned to 563D Aviation Support Battalion, where he was the Plans Officer for Support Operations, Headquarters Support Company. During this time, he deployed to southern Afghanistan in 2011 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. From November 2012 to May 2014, as a logistics officer he commanded Echo Troop (Forward Support Troop), 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (Air Cavalry). While assigned to the 101st Airborne Division he over saw the successful operations of two multi-modal deployments from Diego Garcia and Oman in support of aviation operations in Afghanistan.
McCart was accepted to the National Intelligence University in April 2014. In July 2015, he completed the Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence program. He was also the winner of the Fleet Admiral Nimitz Award for Excellence in Archival Research for his thesis work. Following the National Intelligence University, he completed in-residence Joint Military Professional Education level two in Norfolk, Virginia.
McCart was previously assigned to the United States Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois where he served as a Senior Watch Officer upon arrival then continued on to serve as the Intelligence Watch Branch Chief. As the Watch Branch Chief, he was selected as the Field Grade Officer of the Year for the Intelligence Directorate. He held the additional positions of Executive Officer, Joint Intelligence Directorate, and Operations Officer, Joint Intelligence Center, United States Transportation Command.
Following joint service, he was assigned to United States Army Central / Third Army “Patton’s Own,” Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina as both the Deputy Director, Intelligence Support Division and the Deputy Division Chief for Analysis and Plans under the USARCENT G2.
McCart most recently served as the Professor of Military Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, United States Army Cadet Command, and took command of the Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion May 23, 2024.
McCart’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal (Second Oak leaf Cluster), the Air Force Achievement Medal, and air assault badge.