Brigadier General John J. McGuiness currently serves as the Deputy Commander for Regional Support, NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.
The Deputy Commander for Regional Support is responsible to provide direct support to NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan resourced Afghan National Security Forces through constructing facilities, supporting institutional training programs, coordinating designated services, and issuing and sustaining major end items in support of the Afghan National Security Forces enduring and operational requirements in accordance with Regional Command priorities. Additionally, BG McGuiness exercises command and control of NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan entities in all regions of Afghanistan to facilitate Afghan National Security Forces growth and capacity development to enable accountable Afghan-led security.
Brigadier General McGuiness’ previous assignment was the Assistant Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management for the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Acquisition Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)). Prior to that, he was the Project Manager for Soldier Equipment. The Project Management Office is responsible to conduct the research, development, and fielding of the latest “State of the Art” equipment for anything Soldiers wear, carry, or look through, fielding on average over 15 million pieces of new equipment to Soldiers each year.
Brigadier General McGuiness was commissioned in the Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1983. He began his career as an Infantry Rifle Platoon leader, Improved Tow Vehicle Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer in 1-12 Infantry, Fourth Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. He later commanded Alpha Company and then Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-6 Infantry, First Armored Division, Erlangen, Germany.
Following receipt of a Masters of Science degree in Operations Research at the Air Force Institute of Technology, he was assigned to Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. Assignments at Picatinny include the Infantry Systems Officer, Army Research Development and Engineering Center, followed by an assignment as Assistant Product Manager for Mortar Systems. BG McGuiness later served in the Office of the ASA(AL&T), Pentagon, initially as the Department of the Army Staff Coordinator for Bradley Fighting Vehicle System and then as a Systems Integration Officer. BG McGuiness was then selected to serve as a Research Fellow at the Defense Acquisition University for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Brigadier General McGuiness served as the Product Manager for the M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle System and M113 Armored Personnel Carrier Systems. During OPERATION IRAQI FREEEDOM, BG McGuiness served as the Deputy Director, ASA(AL&T) operations South West Asia, which included deploying with the Fourth Infantry Division . Following attendance at the U.S. Army War College, he served as the Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) (ASA(ALT)).
Brigadier General McGuiness is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Service Staff School, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, the Defense Systems Management College, and the Harvard Business School.
His awards and decorations include the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Department of the Army Staff Badge, the Army Achievement Medal (5 OCL), Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 OCL), Legion of Merit (1OCL), and the Bronze Star.
