Sergeant Major McGinnis was born in Laurel, Delaware. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 17 July 2001, and attended recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina where he was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class. Upon completion, he reported to his MOS school at Camp Johnson, North Carolina where he was Honor Graduate and meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal.
 
Following MOS school, Sergeant Major McGinnis reported to Third Marines, Third Marine Regiment, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where he served as the Administrative Clerk and Legal Clerk for the Regiment. During that time he served with Third Marines and conducted numerous operations to include RIMPAC 2003 and PTA 2002 and 2003.
 
In January 2004, Sergeant Major McGinnis requested and received orders to attend Marine Security Guard School, Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation, Sergeant Major McGinnis received orders to American Embassy Ankara, Turkey.  In June 2004, Sergeant Major McGinnis was reassigned to American Embassy Moscow, Russia.  In July 2005, Sergeant Major McGinnis was reassigned to American Embassy Jakarta, Indonesia where he served as a watch stander, Assistant Detachment Commander, and Acting Detachment Commander.  In August 2006, Sergeant Major McGinnis reported to American Embassy Bamako, Mali. While assigned there he served as the Assistant Detachment Commander and Acting Detachment Commander.  Prior to receiving orders Sergeant Major McGinnis was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
 
In August 2007, Sergeant Major McGinnis received orders to Marine Barracks 8th & I where he served as the Staff Non-commissioned Officer in Charge of the Personnel Administrative Center.  During this time Sergeant Major McGinnis also served as the Senior Docent for the Commandant of the Marine Corps where he gave over 80 tours of the Home of the Commandants.  In July 2008, Sergeant Major McGinnis was transferred to MCI Company, Marine Barracks Washington, Washington, DC where he served as a Course Writer.  
 
In October 2010, Sergeant Major McGinnis received orders from the Headquarters Recruiting Screening Team (HRST) to Recruiters School in San Diego, California.  Upon graduation, Sergeant Major McGinnis received orders to Recruiting Station Twin Cities, Minnesota where he was an enlisted recruiter in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.  In August 2011, Sergeant Major McGinnis attended Advance Course in Quantico, VA where he was recognized as Top Ten Percent, Distinguished Graduate, and the Honor Graduate.  Upon returning, Sergeant Major McGinnis was selected to fill the role of Recruiting Station Twin Cities Officer Selection Assistant, where he led the 9th Marine Corps Recruiting District in officer retention and assisted in RS Twin Cities winning RS of the Year in 2012.
 
In August 2013, Sergeant Major McGinnis received orders to III MEF, Okinawa, Japan where he served as the G-1 Future Operations Chief.  In March 2014, Sergeant Major McGinnis volunteered to fill an IA Billet to Afghanistan where he filled the role of CJIATF-435 Detentions Operations Chief. Upon returning to III MEF, Sergeant Major McGinnis was promoted to First Sergeant and served as Service Company First Sergeant, Headquarters Regiment, 3d MLG from August 2014 to March 2016.  
 
In March 2016, Sergeant Major McGinnis executed orders to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines where he served as Company First Sergeant for Headquarters & Service Company, THE Weapons Company, and Fox Company.  Upon completion of two Unit Deployments Sergeant Major McGinnis was selected to his current rank and executed orders to Wounded Warrior Battalion-West.  Sergeant Major McGinnis served as the Battalion Sergeant Major at Wounded Warrior Battalion-West from May 2019 till December 2020.  From November 2020 to September 2022 Sergeant Major McGinnis served as Battalion Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.  During his tenure with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines he served as the Battalion Landing Team Sergeant Major in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
 
Sergeant Major McGinnis is an Honor Graduate of the Airforce Senior Enlisted Academy and has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with Honors. 
 
Sergeant Major McGinnis’ personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award, and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.