A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Lieutenant General Cavanaugh earned his commission through the United States Naval Academy and was subsequently designated a Naval Aviator. He served with HMH-462, HMH-362, and HMX-1.
He commanded at every operational level including HMH-362 in Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and MAG-36 during multiple disaster relief efforts throughout Asia and as the Commanding General 1st Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered in Japan. As a General Officer, he served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific; Deputy Director for Operations, Joint Staff J-3; Assistant Deputy Commandant, Programs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Programs and Resources Department. He has over a decade of experience serving in the Pentagon and was the head Programmer for the USMC ~$50B budget. Lieutenant General Cavanaugh’s last active duty assignment which culminated roughly three and one half decades of commissioned service was as the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic; Commander, Marine Forces Command; and Commander, Marine Forces Northern Command. The roughly 48k Marines, Sailors and civilians under his charge were deployed globally and the foundation of the Marine Corps efforts towards defense of our homeland. Drawing from his deep expertise in global risk management, aviation operations, and complex problem-solving, Lieutenant General Cavanaugh transitioned to the private sector as the Chief Executive Officer of Vigilantex. Under his leadership, Vigilantex has leveraged his decades of military and strategic experience to drive innovation in risk mitigation, operational performance, and resource optimization. His ability to lead diverse teams and navigate high-stakes environments has positioned Vigilantex as a leader in providing cutting-edge solutions to global challenges. Lieutenant General Cavanaugh’s academic credentials, including a BS in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA from Webster University, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces, further complement his leadership at Vigilantex. As an MIT Seminar XXI Fellow, he brings a forward-thinking approach to steering the company into new frontiers of success.