Col McAvoy is a native of Philadelphia, PA. He is a 2000 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in History, with a minor in French. He completed The Basic School in March 2001, attended flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL as a Student Naval Flight Officer prior to dropping on request.
He completed the Surface to Air Weapons Officer Course at Ft. Bliss, TX in April 2002; then he served with 3d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (LAAD), Camp Pendleton, CA. This tour included a deployment to Iraq as a Platoon Commander in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) I from January to May 2003.
In December 2003, he was temporarily assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to serve as the LAAD Section OIC. During this deployment (May to December 2004), the 11th MEU supported OIF II in An Najaf, Iraq. Upon returning to 3d LAAD Battalion, he served as the Commanding Officer of Headquarters and Service Battery from January 2005 to April 2006.
In May of 2006, he was transferred to Recruiting Station Albany, NY where he served as the Operations Officer (June 2006 to May 2008), and the Executive Officer (June 2008 to July 2009). In August 2009, he transitioned from the active component to the reserve component.
In October 2009, he joined 3d Civil Affairs Group (CAG). He mobilized in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) 10.1 from January to December 2010. In Afghanistan, he served as a CA Team Leader in direct support of 3d Battalion, 1st Marines in the Garmsir district of Helmand province. He then mobilized with 3d CAG as a Team Leader again in August 2012 in support of OEF 12.2. He was posted to Garmsir district again, supporting 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines. He redeployed to CONUS in May 2013, continuing to serve with 1st CAG (3rd CAG was re-designated in October 2012), and participated in exercises in California and Guantanamo Bay.
From May 2014 to May 2016 he was assigned to MTACS-48, NS Great Lakes, IL, serving as the squadron's Executive Officer and participating in exercises in California, Okinawa, and Midwestern states. He transferred to Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group in June 2016 and served in the operations section there.
He joined 4th Civil Affairs Group as a Detachment Commander in October 2017 and participated in 4th CAG's support to exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2018 in Norway. He served as commanding officer of MTACS-48 from May 2019 to May 2021, during which time the squadron participated in exercises in Midwestern states.
In June 2021 he joined 4th CAG serving as the Executive Officer until February 2023. He mobilized in support of Operation ALLIES WELCOME for two months in late 2021, serving with Task Force Quantico. He also participated in exercises in support of II MEF in North Carolina.
He next joined the MAGTF Staff Training Program IMA Detachment in November 2023, where he supported exercises for I MEF and II MEF. Col McAvoy assumed command of 3rd CAG in September 2025.
Col McAvoy is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School (non-resident), the Marine Corps Command and Staff College (non-resident), and the Joint and Combined Warfighting Seminar through the Joint Forces Staff College (non-resident), and the Army War College (non-resident). His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal.
In his civilian occupation, Col McAvoy is employed by an oil company as an inventory manager.