CDR Joseph J. Gunta

Past Commanding Officer, USS John S. McCain (DDG 56)

29 August 2022 Commander Joseph J. Gunta is a native of Milwaukee, WI. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was commissioned through the NROTC Program in 2004 as a Surface Warfare Officer. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Defense Financial Management from the Naval Post Graduate School. Commander Gunta also received a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and participated in the Halsey Alpha Advanced Research Program.

At sea he served as the Communications, Auxiliaries and Navigation Officer onboard USS HIGGINS (DDG-76). During his Department Head tours, he served as the Chief Engineer onboard USS KIDD (DDG-100) and USS VICKSBURG (CG-69), successfully completing multiple material certifications as well as operational duties as the Standing NATO Maritime Strike Group Two Flagship. Most recently he served as the Executive Officer of USS JOHN S. McCAIN (DDG-56) during two FDNF-J Patrols in support of a free and open INDO-PACIFIC region as well as successfully executing a homeport shift to Everett, WA after over 25 years of service in Japan.

Ashore, he served as the Amphibious Warfare Financial Analyst in OPNAV N80 Programming Division as well as the Surface Warfare Budget Analyst for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller).

His personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal as well as various unit and campaign awards. He assumed the duties and responsibilities of Commanding Officer of USS JOHN S McCAIN (DDG-56) on 29 Aug 2022.