Lieutenant Colonel Quinn, a 1984 graduate of the University of Delaware, served as a communications officer in Marine division, aircraft wing, and amphibious ship billets during his career, as well as on the staff of Headquarters, Marine Corps (HQMC). Since retiring in 2006, he has served as the deputy director, Strategic Initiatives Group, HQMC, and currently is branch head, Futures Branch, Concepts and Plans Division at the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.