JD Gainey
Board of Directors Member Since August 2024
JD Gainey is a retired naval officer with 26 years of distinguished service, specializing in Indo-Pacific security, joint military operations, integrated air and missile defense, and command and control systems integration. He is a United States Naval Academy graduate and the Naval Postgraduate School graduate.
Throughout his career, J.D. has contributed to significant Indo-Pacific initiatives. In 2018, he spearheaded the initial defense of Guam effort, which has since evolved into a multi-hundred-million dollar defense program. In 2019, he initiated the Joint Fires Network and the Indo-Pacific Warfighting Concept, which have become critical components of U.S. defense strategy. During multiple tours at HQUSINDOPACOM, J.D. served as the aide to the Commander, Director of the Commander’s Action Group, Deputy IAMD Chief, and senior national security / advanced technology analyst. In these roles, he created the Joint Mission Accelerator and Allied Sensor Integration programs, co-authored the USINDOPACOM Integrated Air and Missile Defense 2028 vision, and supported the realization of AUKUS Pillar 2.
One of J.D.’s career highlights was commanding USS HOPPER (DDG 70), an Aegis BMD destroyer. Under his command, USS HOPPER successfully launched multiple SM3-1b missiles for the Missile Defense Agency. The ship independently deployed to CENTCOM and INDOPACOM, supporting three U.S. carrier strike groups and serving as Air Defense and Regional BMD Commander. USS HOPPER also served as the Air Defense Commander for the first U.K.-commanded Task Force 50 in CENTCOM.
J.D.’s extensive operational and joint headquarters experience positions him at the intersection of military operations, national security enablers, advanced technology, and innovative solutions. His career reflects a commitment to enhancing U.S. and allied missile defense capabilities and fostering international defense cooperation. Expect to hear J.D. often say, “There must be a better way to do this,” MDAA is excited to bring his energy, experience, and commitment to evolve the U.S. and international IAMD mission.
