Vice Admiral Winnefeld graduated with high honor in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and received his commission from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps program. After designation as a Naval aviator, he served with two fighter squadrons and as an instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Topgun).

His command tours include Fighter Squadron 211, USS Cleveland (LPD 7) and USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the “Big E.” He led “Big E” through her 18th deployment, which included combat operations in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom immediately after the terrorist acts of Sept. 11, 2001. As commander, Carrier Strike Group 2/Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, he led Task Forces 50, 152 and 58 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime interception operations in the Persian Gulf. He most recently served as commander, United States 6th Fleet, commander NATO Allied Joint Command Lisbon and commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO.

His shore tours include service as an action officer in the Joint Staff Operations Directorate, as senior aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as executive assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. As a flag officer he served ashore as director, Warfare Programs and Transformational Concepts, United States Fleet Forces Command and as director of Joint Innovation and Experimentation at United States Joint Forces Command.

Winnefeld’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and five Battle Efficiency awards.