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Vice Admiral Winns is a Naval Aviator who served in a variety of operational and training squadrons (VP-31, VP-6, VP-30 and VP-56). He was Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11), winning the Battle ā€œEā€ and four consecutive Golden Wrench awards.

His shipboard tours included the USS Forrestal (CV 59), USS Guam (LPH 9), and commanding officer of USS Essex (LHD 2) where he earned the coveted Battle ā€œE.ā€ Ashore, he has served in leadership positions at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, on the Navy Staff, and on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In May 2000, Winns became the first officer in his Naval Academy class of 1978 to be selected for flag rank. As a flag officer, he commanded Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, Pacific and Task Force 32; was the Deputy for Air Warfare Requirements (N88B); and served as Vice Director and Acting Director for Operations (J-3), of the Joint Staff.

Winns is the 2007 Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement in Government award winner. He served as the naval inspector general from November 2007 until his retirement in 2011. Currently, Vice Admiral Winns serves as a Defense Industry Consultant.

He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy; recent graduate of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and M.S. with distinction in Financial Management, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey.