Garrett Cathcart

Co-Founder and Executive Director of + MPU

Headshot of Garrett Cathcart, a white man with a salt and pepper beard standing in front of scenic mountains

In 2021, Garrett joined + More Perfect Union as the Co-Founder and Executive Director. He leads the mission to establish the nonprofit as the next-generation civic and service organization. + MPU’s mission is to build connections with people who would not otherwise meet, through service, civics, and leadership events at local chapters called Brickyards.

Prior to joining + MPU, Garrett served as the founding Executive Director of Mission Roll Call, a national organization that provides veterans a powerful and unified voice in public policy, and as the first Southeast Regional Director of veteran service organization Team Red, White and Blue.

Garrett Cathcart served 9 years as a United States Army Cavalry officer and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Garrett’s service included three years in ground combat leadership roles. Garrett served as a Reconnaissance Scout Platoon Leader in Baghdad during the Surge in 2007, colloquially known as the bloodiest year in Iraq, as an embedded military advisor living and operating with the Iraqi Army in 2008, and as a Cavalry Troop Commander in Afghanistan responsible for the security, governance and development for two Afghan districts in 2010. His final assignment on active duty was serving as Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of the 4th Infantry Division. Garrett’s awards include three Bronze Star Medals, an Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device and a Meritorious Service Medal.

Garrett is also a Major in the Army Reserves where he serves as an Associate Professor of Leadership and Military Science at Georgia Tech. Garrett graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2004 and the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University in 2018. He holds a certificate in nonprofit executive leadership from the University of Georgia, and he is a George W. Bush Veteran Leadership Scholar. He is also an accomplished public speaker who has addressed the Atlanta Hawks, New York University, The Home Depot, The Federal Reserve, and guest lectured at the US Military and Air Force Academies. He has appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, CNN, USA Today, Fox News, and CBS World News.