Colonel Michael P. Quinto graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1993. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1994, trained as a structural mechanic and was subsequently accepted for the Enlisted Commissioning Program, from which he was commissioned a second lieutenant in August 1995. Upon completion of the Basic School, he reported to Infantry Officers Course where he received follow-on orders to 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Second Lieutenant Quinto served as First Platoon Commander and Weapons Platoon Commander with Fox Company from September 1996 through September 1998. He led a reinforced platoon to Haiti in August 1997 as part of a contingency readiness exercise and later deployed to Japan and Korea in December 1997 with the battalion as part of the Unit Deployment Program.
Upon selection to the field accession program, First Lieutenant Quinto reported to the Naval Air Training Command at NAS Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a Naval Aviator in December 2000 in Meridian, Mississippi. Captain Quinto then reported to Training Squadron 7 for duty as a Selectively Retained Graduate (SERGRAD) until July 2001.
Captain Quinto then reported to Marine Attack Training Squadron 203, MCAS Cherry Point North Carolina for initial training in the AV-8B. Upon completion in April 2002 he was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 231 where he served in the Operations Department and as the S-6 OIC. In the spring of 2003 he deployed to the Far East in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS ESSEX. Upon redeployment he transferred to Marine Attack Squadron 542, where he then deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, in May of 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
In July 2005 Captain Quinto was transferred to Commander Seventh Fleet, Yokosuka, Japan for duty aboard the USS BLUE RIDGE. He served as the lead Joint/Combined Korea planner with the N-5 of the Seventh Fleet. In May 2006 Major Quinto, while still assigned to Seventh Fleet, led a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) platoon into Dili, East Timor, to secure the U.S. Embassy there.
In July 2007 Major Quinto reported to Marine Attack Squadron 211, MCAS Yuma, Arizona, where he served as the Aviation Maintenance Officer until November 2008 and then served as the Operations Officer, deploying with the squadron to the Far East in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon redeployment Major Quinto was reassigned as the Executive Officer until June 2010.
From 2010-2012 Major Quinto was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps and served as the Section Head for Current Operations in Plans, Policies and Operations (PP&O). Here he was responsible for briefing the Secretary of the Navy, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and other Senior Executives on current operations throughout the Marine Corps.
In July 2012 Lieutenant Colonel Quinto reported to MAG-14 where he rejoined VMA-231 just prior to deployment to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan as the Executive Officer and supported Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2012 to April 2013. Lieutenant Colonel Quinto commanded VMA-231 from June 2013 to June 2015, with the squadron conducting simultaneous deployments of the 31st MEU and the 24th MEU. Lieutenant Colonel Quinto subsequently served with the Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate. In June 2018, Colonel Quinto assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 14.
Colonel Quinto holds a MS in National Resource Strategy and a BS in Mechanical Engineering. His Professional Military Education includes Amphibious Warfare School non-resident course, Command and Staff College non-resident course, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal fourth award, the Air Medal with strike/flight bronze numeral 8, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal.