Joe Gunta, Director/Communications Chair

Joe 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 UW 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 and also received a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, where he 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. 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

In his most recent sea tour, he served as the Commanding Officer of USS JOHN S McCAIN (DDG 56).

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).  

He recently completed a tour as the Defense Legislative Fellow to Sen. Susan Collins (ME) and is currently serving as a Surface Warfare Acquisition professional at PEO Integrated Warfare Systems 80.