Kathy McCarthy currently works at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) as the Vice-President of Research & Development.
Previously, McCarthy served as the Director of the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program Technical Integration Office for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE). She held the positions of Deputy Associated Laboratory Director for Nuclear Science & Technology and the National Technical Director for the Systems Analysis Campaign for the DOE-NE Fuel Cycle R&D Program at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls. Her research focused on nuclear fission and fusion programs.
McCarthy received her B.S. in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Arizona in 1983, her Masters in 1986, and her Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering in 1989 at the University of California, Los Angeles.
After her doctoral studies, McCarthy spent time in Germany, the Soviet Union, and Latvia conducting nuclear research.
McCarthy is a member of the American Nuclear Society, where she served 2 terms on the Board of Directors (2002-2008). She is the former Vice Chair of Professional Women in ANS, Fusion Energy Division Chair (2000-2001), Vice-Chair (1999-2000) and Executive Committee (1996-1999), American Nuclear Society Idaho Section Chair (2001-2002) and Vice-Chair (2000-2001), and the University of Arizona Student Chapter ANS President (1982-83).