Cmdr. Edward J. McGuinnis
Executive Officer, Beachmaster Unit Two
13 January 2026
A native of Chicago, IL, Cmdr. Edward J. McGuinnis graduated from Fenwick High school in Oak Park, IL. He reported to the Naval Academy in June 2004. While at the Academy he was active in Varsity Sailing, the Naval Academy Leadership Conference, and served as a member of Company Staff.
He selected to serve as a Surface Warfare Officer and the USS TRUXTUN (DDG 103) for his first tour where he served as Electrical Officer, Auxiliaries Officer, Administration Officer, and Legal Officer. In April 2011, he reported as Training Officer onboard USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) and was responsible for scheduling planning and organizing ship wide training. While assigned to ASHLAND he filled an Individual Augmentee billet as the J35 Maritime Operations Planner for Special Operations Command and Control Element Horn of Africa supporting multiple Joint and Combined exchange training engagements with partner nations throughout the 14 country Area of Operations. During his Department Head tours, Cmdr. McGuinnis served as the first Engineer Officer onboard USS RALPH JOHNSON (DDG 114) establishing the inaugural Engineering Department and taking the ship through Sea Trials, Delivery, Damage Control Material Assessment and paved the way for the first Light off Assessment. Following DDG 114, he reported as the Engineer Officer aboard USS NORMANDY (CG 60) completing back-to-back deployments with the HARRY S TRUMAN Strike Group. Most recently Cmdr. McGuinnis served as Chief Engineer onboard USS IWO JIMA (LHD 7).
Ashore, Cmdr. McGuinnis served as Aide de Camp to the Commandant of Joint Forces Staff College September 2012-March 2015. During that time, he completed JPME phase 1 and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Planning focusing on East Africa. From 2020-2022, he served as the Lead Project Officer and Executive Officer of the N44 directorate responsible for Material Readiness and Assessments at Commander Naval Surface Forces Atlantic. From 2023-2025, he served as the first Chief Staff Officer at the Board of Inspection and Survey in Norfolk, VA.
Cmdr. McGuinnis’ personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Commendation Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and various unit and service awards.