A native of Long Island, N.Y., Vice Adm. McCoy graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1978, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

At sea, McCoy served aboard USS Daniel Webster (SSBN 626) and as repair officer aboard USS Ly Spear (AS 36). In these assignments he earned his submarine engineering duty qualification and his surface warfare qualification. He was also awarded the Claud A. Jones Award from the American Society of Naval Engineers as "Fleet Engineer of the Year" during his tour onboard Ly Spear. 

Ashore, McCoy served in numerous assignments in the Naval Shipyards, including assignment to Mare Island, Charleston, Norfolk, Puget Sound and Portsmouth Naval Shipyards. From 2001-2004, he served as the 80th commander of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. McCoy earned a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering and an engineer's degree in Naval Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also earned a Masters in Business Administration Degree from Emory University. 

Upon selection to flag rank, McCoy served as assistant deputy commander of Industrial Operations of the Naval Sea Systems Command from 2004-2005. From 2005-2008, he served as the Naval Sea Systems Command’s chief engineer. In June 2008, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for promotion to the rank of vice admiral and was assigned as the 42nd commander, Naval Sea Systems Command.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, Rear Adm. French was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program in May 1979. He earned a Master of Science degree from Naval Postgraduate School in 1986 and a Master of Arts from the Naval War College in 1999. 

A submarine officer and graduate of the Navy’s Nuclear Power Training, French has served at sea in USS Spadefish (SSN 668), as operations officer in USS Sea Devil (SSN 664), and engineer in USS Tecumseh (SSBN 628). He served as executive officer of USS Helena (SSN 725) and commanded USS Salt Lake City(SSN 716) homeported in San Diego. 

Ashore, French served as Submarine Officer Community manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel; as deputy commander of Submarine Squadron 11; as chief of the Strategy and Policy Division at United States Strategic Command in Omaha, Neb.; as director, Submarine Officer Distribution and Nuclear Propulsion Program manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel; and commanded Submarine Squadron 3 in Pearl Harbor. During his squadron command tour, all six of the squadron's submarines deployed, five of which conducted operations in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

French’s first flag officer assignment was serving as commander, Navy Region Northwest, followed by command of Navy Region Marianas while concurrently serving as U.S. Defense representative to Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau. French currently serves as Commander, Navy Region Southwest. 

His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, four awards of the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.