A native of Bethlehem, PA, Colonel Kinitz enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in June 1995. He served as a 0311 Infantry Marine while attending Shippensburg University. During college, he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 2000.
Colonel Kinitz has served in a wide variety of billets in the Fleet Marine Force to include Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit Light Armored Reconnaissance Detachment Platoon Commander while assigned to 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; Assistant Operations Officer and Company Commander with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; Executive Officer of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines; Commanding Officer of 3d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; and Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations (L3) Task Force 76/3.
Colonel Kinitz has participated in multiple combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and he deployed to the Indo-Pacific Area of Operations in support of Unit Deployment Program-West.
Colonel Kinitz served in the Supporting Establishment as Primary Instructor and Staff Platoon Commander, Company Commander, and Warfighting Director/Chief Instructor at the Basic School; Commanding Officer of Light Armored Vehicle Training Company at the School of Infantry-West; and Operations Officer of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Staff Training Program.
Colonel Kinitz is a graduate of Winter Mountain Leader Course, Maneuver Captains Career Course and Calvary Leader Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Instructor Education Program and Formal Schools Manager Course, and the National Defense University; College of International Security Affairs.
Colonel Kinitz has a Masters in Military Studies and Masters of Arts in Strategic Security Studies. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold stars in lieu of fifth award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device and gold stars in lieu of fourth award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in lieu of second award.