Rear Adm. Max McCoy

Commander, Carrier Strike Group 4

13 May 2025

Rear Adm. Max McCoy is a native of Orlando, Florida. He received his commission in 1991 from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography and in 1994 was designated a naval aviator. He is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff Distance Education, Joint Force Staff College Joint Professional Military Education Phase II, and a MIT Seminar XXI Fellow.

McCoy’s operational assignments include tours with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 and VFA 136. He has completed deployments on USS Constellation (CV 64), USS George Washington (CVN 73), and USS Nimitz (CVN 68). He commanded VFA 86 and Carrier Air Wing TWO (CVW 2).

His shore assignments include a strike fighter tactics instructor tour at Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific; demonstration pilot with the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, Blue Angels; executive assistant to the Commanding General, Joint Warfighting Center (JFCOM J7); Joint Strike Fighter Requirements officer for the Director, Air Warfare staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Warfare Systems); vice commander, 33rd Fighter Wing; the first commodore of the Joint Strike Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Lemoore; and chief of staff for Commander, Naval Air Forces.

McCoy commanded the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center as his first flag assignment. He reported to Carrier Strike Group FOUR (CSG-4) in May 2023.  

McCoy has logged more than 5,300 flight hours and has received numerous personal, unit, and campaign awards.