The Honorable James J. Carey, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Retired is a Senior Consultant with American Business Development Group, an internationally respected, full-spectrum business development consulting firm, now representing a diverse list of over fifty prominent U.S. and international businesses. American Business Development Group enjoys a reputation as one of the largest business development firms in the United States which specializes in the re-equipping and modernization of the United States Armed Forces.
Admiral Carey was born in Berlin, Wisconsin and attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he majored in Marketing and Business Administration. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and later went on to study for an M. B. A. at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, regularly ranked as the top MBA Business Program in the United States.
Following graduation from Northwestern, Admiral Carey attended Navy Officers Candidate School in Newport, RI and reported aboard U. S. S. TOPEKA [CLG-8] in NOV 1962 for duty afloat in the South China Sea and Vietnam. He finished his active duty obligation in 1966 and began a combined navy and business career involving marketing, business administration, and management, eventually working with the Saudi Arabia Navy Expansion Program and the Saudi Petrochemical Industry.
In June of 1981, based upon his reputation in international business and extensive Navy involvement in maritime matters, he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to join his Administration as a Commissioner of the U. S. Federal Maritime Commission. He was confirmed for that position by the United States Senate on October 8, 1981, and sworn into office the following day. In 1983, he was elected Vice Chairman of the Commission, a position he held for the next six years.
In that same year, Admiral Carey was asked by the White House Office of Presidential Personnel to establish a professional forum for the Senate Confirmed Presidential Appointees to regularly meet, socialize, network and communicate with one another in the interests of more effective government. Jim was elected President of that organization and remained in that position for six years, during which time he regularly interfaced with The White House, members of the President’s Cabinet, all other federal government agency heads, and the various Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries and Commissioners of the United States Government.
In 1985, President Reagan asked him to serve a second Federal Maritime Commission term, whereupon he was again confirmed by the United States Senate and again sworn into office in December of that year. In early 1989, Admiral Carey was asked by newly elected President George Bush to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, a position he accepted and held for the next two years. During his nine-year tenure at the Commission, Jim dealt regularly with almost every nation in the world and became a highly respected “voice of reason” in the international maritime world. In recognition of his FMC service, the Commission awarded Jim Carey it’s Gold Medal for Exceptional Service, the highest award the agency has in it’s power to give.
Admiral Carey currently serves as the Chairman of the National Defense Committee, Future Leaders for America Foundation, NATIONAL DEFENSE PAC, and as National Co-Chairman of The Flag & General Officers’ Network, also on the Boards of several corporations, including American Business Development Group, and as an American Business Development Group Senior Consultant.
A retired Navy Rear Admiral, his personal decorations include four awards of the Legion of Merit. He held seven commands during his 34 year navy career, including 3 years as Readiness Command Region SIX in Washington, DC, with leadership of 10,000 Officers & Sailors during the DESERT SHIELD / DESERT STORM military operations in Iraq.
Admiral Carey is married to the former Arlene Patricia Brooks, and has two adult daughters, a granddaughter and grandson. He resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
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