WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has nominated retired Marine Lt. Gen. Dennis McCarthy, who practiced law for 20 years in Columbus, as assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs.

McCarthy, 64, who holds the title "of counsel" at the law firm Volkema Thomas, will need to be confirmed by the Senate. Although he and his wife still maintain a home in Columbus, he has spent much of the past decade in Washington, D.C.

"Dennis is just one of those incredible guys who always knew the difference between right and wrong, a real strong sense of country, and loved working for the men and women in the Marine Corps," said Daniel Volkema, the lead partner of the firm.

In McCarthy's new post he would supervise all services' Reserves, including manpower and readiness.

McCarthy grew up in Cleveland, where he graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1963. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton in 1967 before joining the Marines and serving in Vietnam.

In 1975, McCarthy earned a law degree from Capital University and served as a trial and defense counsel at Camp Lejeune, N.C. In 1978, he transferred to the Marine Reserve and moved to Columbus to practice law.

He was called up for active duty in 1990 during the Persian Gulf War, returned to Columbus and was called back to active duty in 1999. From 2001 through 2005, McCarthy was commander of the Marine Forces Reserve.

Since his retirement from the Marines in 2005, he has served as executive director of the Reserves Officers Association.

McCarthy's son Sean is an assistant prosecutor in Franklin County and his other son, Michael, is a major in the Marines serving on Capitol Hill.

jtorry@dispatch.com