Brig. Gen. Michael T. McGinley is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He plays a key role in directing the Air Force’s $3 billion science, technology and innovation enterprise and an additional $3 billion in externally funded research and development across a 6,000-member workforce, pushing the boundaries of modern technology for warfighter needs. Brig. Gen. McGinley also created and serves as the Director of the GigEagle Agile Talent Ecosystem Initiative–DoD’s first Joint, artificial intelligence-driven talent operations platform, designed to optimize whole-of-nation talent for Great Power Competition.
Previously, Brig. Gen. McGinley led the Defense Innovation Unit’s Boston operations, served as the Innovation Advisor at SAF/AQ, and led an advanced cyber technology team at USCYBERCOM. He has deep experience leading emerging technology development groups and leveraging venture capital in Public-Private Partnerships. He is a Level III Joint Qualified Officer.
Brig. Gen. McGinley is a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated with Distinction and Highest Honors. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a Managing Editor of The Georgetown Law Journal. Before being recalled to active duty to serve at DIU, he practiced law, specializing in cybersecurity and international financial sanctions. He also has civilian experience as a technology consultant and is currently an executive at a global technology company.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Highest Honors), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1998 Air & Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2001 Language and Foreign Area Studies Immersion, Málaga, Spain
2003 Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Auburn University, Ala.
2004 Squadron Officers School, by correspondence
2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2009 Juris Doctor, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.
2013 Outstanding Graduate, Air War College, by correspondence
2018 Joint and Combined Warfighting School (Hybrid), Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2021 High Potentials Leadership Program, Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Mass.
2022 Middle East and South Asia Seminar, Washington, D.C.
2022 China and Indo-Pacific Command Seminar, Washington, D.C.
2023 Artificial Intelligence for National Security Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Continuous Improvement & Innovation Executive Course, Durham, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1998–August 1998, Student, Air & Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2. August 1998–September 2000, Command and Control Combat Systems Test Manager, Test & Evaluation Directorate, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
3. October 2000–July 2001, Deputy Program Manager, Joint Precision and Approach Landing System, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
4. July 2001–November 2003, Training Commander, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
5. November 2003–July 2006, Flight Commander, Squadron Officer College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. August 2006–August 2009, Chief, Acquisition of Services, Program Executive Office for Protected Satellite Communications, Teleport and Services, Defense Information Systems Agency, Arlington, Va.
7. August 2009–March 2014, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director, Air Force Reserve Policy Integration Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. April 2014–August 2016, Joint Cyber Planner, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Md.
9. August 2016–October 2020, Director, Defense Innovation Unit Boston, Boston, Mass.
10. November 2020–January 2022, Innovation Advisor to the Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. February 2022–present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2014–August 2016, Joint Cyber Planner, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Md., as a lieutenant colonel
2. August 2016–October 2020, Director, Defense Innovation Unit Boston, Boston, Mass., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Air Force Association
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Life Member
Connecticut Bar (Active); Washington, D.C. Bar (Inactive); Pennsylvania Bar (Inactive)
New England Super Lawyers Rising Star: 2014, 2015, 2016
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Bar
(Current as of March 2024)