Brigadier Gen. John J. McGuiness

By Research, Development and Engineering CommandJuly 16, 2012

Brig. Gen. John J. McGuiness
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

***UPDATE: Announcement made on Friday, 13 JUL 12, from the U.S. Army General Officer Management Office:

Brig. Gen. John J. McGuiness, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command and Senior Commander, Natick Soldier System Center, Natick, Mass. will be assigned as Program Executive Officer, Ammunition and Commanding General, Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.

***

Brig. Gen. John J. McGuiness assumed duties as Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command and Senior Commander of the Natick Soldier Systems Center, Natick, Mass. May 10, 2011.

The general previously served as the Deputy Commanding General for Regional Support, NATO Training Mission / Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan. In this assignment, McGuiness commanded six Regional Support Commands (brigades) consisting of Soldiers representing over 30 Nations. His command was responsible to support the daily training of over 34,000 Afghan National Army and Police at 70 training sites, over 400 construction projects across Afghanistan, and to support the fielded Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, a total combined force of over 230,000 personnel, during combat operations.

McGuiness was commissioned in the Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1983. Initial assignments include Rifle Platoon leader, Improved TOW Vehicle Platoon Leader, and Company Executive Officer in 1-12 Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. He later served in the First Armored Division, Erlangen, Germany, commanding Alpha Company and then Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-6 Infantry.

Acquisition assignments include assignment to Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, working as the Infantry Systems Officer, Armament Research Development and Engineering Center, followed by an assignment as the Assistant Product Manager for Mortar Systems. He was the Product Manager for the M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle System and M113 Armored Personnel Carrier Systems. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, he served as the Deputy Director, ASA(ALT) operations South West Asia, which included deploying with the Fourth Infantry Division in 2003. His Project Manager assignment was as the Project Manager for Soldier Equipment, earning the 2009 Secretary of the Army's Award as the Project Manager of the Year.

McGuiness' Acquisition staff assignments include tours in the Office of the ASA(ALT), Pentagon, initially as the Department of the Army Staff Coordinator for Bradley Systems and then as a Systems Integration Officer. He was then selected to serve as a Research Fellow at the Defense Acquisition University for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Later assignments in ASA(ALT) include being the Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition Logistics and Technology and then returning as a General Officer to be the Assistant Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, ASA(ALT).

McGuiness is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Service Staff School, and the Army Command and General Staff College. He holds Masters Degrees in Operations Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology and National Security Strategy from the U.S. Army War College as well as graduating from the Program of Management Development from the Harvard Business School.

His awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star.

The general was born in Newburgh, N.Y. He and his wife have two children.

Related Links:

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U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center, Natick

Research, Development and Engineering Command