Dennis V. McGinn

Early life and education Born on August 26, 1945, McGinn is a native of Attleboro, Massachusetts. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1967 with a B.S. degree in naval engineering. He served two operational deployments at sea aboard the aircraft carrier as a landing signal officer and weapons officer respectively.

McGinn's nomination as a vice admiral was confirmed on June 25, 1998, and he subsequently commanded the United States Third Fleet from November 1998 to October 2000. His capstone assignment was as the first Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs, and he retired in September 2002.

Private civilian career McGinn's experiences during the 1973 oil crisis instilled in him a longtime goal to reduce America's overreliance on fossil fuels, believing that it compromised the economy and national security. Consequently, he has joined various organizations that promote clean and renewable energy sources. McGinn said that "there is no one perfect new energy solution—we need a silver buckshot approach because there's not a silver bullet".

McGinn served as board chairman of the United States Naval Institute from 2001 to 2002, a member (later vice chairman) of the CNA Military Advisory Board from 2007 to 2013, and president and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy from 2011 to 2013. Under CNA, he worked closely with former Republican senator John Warner. McGinn was appointed to the Department of Energy Electricity Advisory Board in 2012. At his confirmation hearing, he pledged to consult Congress on any new energy programs initiated by the Navy and to carefully consider "opportunity costs" when reviewing such programs. He was confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2013, and assumed office on September 3, 2013. He gave a positive appraisal of the energy initiatives of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, commenting that the base has "a good technologically-savvy workforce, a culture that is looking for ways to really value and save energy with energy efficiency". He resigned on January 20, 2017, to make way for the incoming Trump administration.

Post-government career

Since leaving the government, McGinn has continued to occupy advisory roles in various energy-related organizations.

In July 2018, McGinn wrote an op-ed through CNN that was critical of the Trump administration's climate change policy and Trump's focus on NATO defense spending.

Personal life McGinn is married to Susan Kelly Harris. They have 4 children.

Awards and decorations

United States Naval Aviator insigniaNavy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossMeritorious Service MedalAir MedalNavy and Marine Corps Commendation MedalNavy Unit CommendationNavy Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy "E" Ribbon, 2nd awardNavy Expeditionary MedalNational Defense Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment RibbonRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationRVN Campaign MedalKuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)Navy Pistol Marksmanship Medal