Introducing MPU’s Executive Director Garrett Cathcart

The foundation of the More Perfect Union strategy is a citizen-powered, veteran-led movement for healing and reform. But how do you go about building a movement?

Movement-building is hard. Like most startups, most movements never get beyond “the good idea stage” of development. Inspiring people to believe in your cause and vision and then to take action outside their comfort zone to help realize that vision is a tough hill to climb. Mobilizing members, communicating with them effectively and consistently, motivating them to stay in the fight even when obstacles present themselves and disappointment comes, and scaling inspiration and impact are all examples of skill sets needed to build and sustain a powerful movement.

Thankfully, at More Perfect Union, we’ve been able to find the perfect leader to lead the charge in building the movement…a leader who lives and breathes the More Perfect Union core values. A leader who possesses all of the unique skill sets listed above and more. A leader who comes with a wealth of experience in movement-building and mobilizing American citizens, veteran and non-veteran, across the country to step into the arena and do good.

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, 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 military awards include three Bronze Star Medals, an Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device and a Meritorious Service Medal.

Before joining our team as the Executive Director of More Perfect Union, 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 organization Team Red, White and Blue.

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, Fox News, and CBS World News.

I am humbled and honored to have a nationally-recognized visionary like Garrett join the team. There is no better leader to take on this enormous task to help bring our country back together to higher ground. Welcome to the team, Garrett!