A native of Long Island, N.Y., Vice Admiral 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 L. Y. 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.