Rear Dennis F. McCoy

Rear Admiral Dennis F. McCoy, Judge Advocate 's , U.S. (Retired) was born on November 19, 1937 in Glen Ridge NJ. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina Law School in 1961, and a Masters in Law degree in Public International and Comparative Law from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1972. RDML McCoy is a member of the bar of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the Court of Military Appeals. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association.

RDML McCoy entered the Naval Officers' Candidate School, Newport, in 1961 and was commissioned as a line in the Navy. After graduation from the , RDML McCoy served as CIC and Legal Officer on USS (DD 931) until 1964, when he was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel. In 1965, RDML McCoy was designated a law . He served as Assistant Legal Officer on the , Destroyer Forces, Atlantic from 1965 to 1967. After a six-month course at the Defense Language Institute, he served as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, JUSMG/MAGG until 1971. After completion of graduate school in 1972, RDML McCoy was assigned to the International Law of the Office of the Judge Advocate General. He assumed the assignment as Division Legal Advisor, Politico-Military Policy Division (OP 616B), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in 1973.

In 1976, RDML McCoy was assigned as a student in the College of , Naval College where he graduated with distinction in 1977. From 1977 to 1980 he served as Staff Judge Advocate and Head, International Law Division at the . Following that assignment, RDML McCoy served until 1982 as the Head, Military Affairs Branch, Administrative Law Division, Office of the Judge Advocate General. In 1982 he became Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General for Litigation and served in that position until assuming duty as Commanding Officer, Naval Justice School in October 1983. In August 1987, RDML McCoy became the Staff Judge Advocate, U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.

On August 1, 1990, RDML McCoy was appointed Assistant Judge Advocate General (Civil Law), Assistant Judge Advocate General (General Law), and Commanding Officer, Civil Law Support Activity in Washington, DC. RDML McCoy retired from active duty on July 1, 1992 as a (lower half). His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, with two gold stars, the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star. Married to the former Susan Hamilton McKenney, of Pasadena, CA, together they have six children, Peter, Betsy, Kristin, Maura, Cam (McKenney), and Gordon (McKenney).

In retirement Admiral McCoy’s community service includes serving as the past Chair of the Board of Management of the Armed Services YMCA of Newport; past Vice President, Child and Family of Newport County; past Vice President, SEAPORT '76; a past member of the Board of Director, Edward Senior Center, Newport, a community member of the Newport Substance Abuse Task Force, a trustee of the , and a trustee of the Newport Public Education Foundation, past President of the Top of the Hill Association; past Chair, Traditional Maritime Planning Task Force of the City of Newport. He is the immediate past President, Navy Marine Corps Retired Judge Advocates Association and is the past Chair, Administrative Council and current Lay Leader of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Newport where he operates the church’s soup kitchen. RDML McCoy is the current President, Naval Justice School Foundation, President Emeritus of the Newport Historical Society, past Chair of the Families First initiative of the Newport Partnership. Admiral McCoy served as a trustee and secretary of the Naval War College Foundation. RDML McCoy served as the Councilman for the Third Ward of the City of Newport, Rhode Island from 1996 to 2002.