Merrick “Mac” Carey

Chief Executive Officer

Merrick Carey is CEO and founder of the Lexington Institute, a public policy think tank established in 1998 and based in Arlington, Virginia. The Institute runs research, press efforts and policy forums to advance democratic capitalism and a strong national defense.

During the 1980s, Carey was Press Secretary to Representative Jack Kemp, Chief of Staff to Representative James Courter, and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean. From 1990-1993, Carey was Executive Vice President of the international economic advisory firm Johnson Smick International. He also served from 1989 through 1996 as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Naval Reserve and was a mobilized reservist for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (to Navy Headquarters, Europe), as well as an Air Intelligence Officer in 1996 preparing missions and flying with VP-11 in support of Operation Decisive Edge over Bosnia.

Carey has lectured at the Naval War College, Marine Corps University, George Washington University, the Heritage Foundation, and many business and government forums.

Carey has a B. A. in History and Political Science from Drew University. He is married to the former Melissa Coggeshall, and they have three children and three grandsons. They live in Arlington, Virginia.