Rear Admiral Christopher McMahon, USMS

Deputy Superintendent

Rear Admiral Christopher McMahon is a 1977 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, New York where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and a U.S. Coast Guard license.  Upon graduation, Rear Admiral McMahon sailed for many years aboard deep-sea commercial vessels engaged in worldwide trade.  He is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed master mariner (steam, motor, and sail vessels).

From 1984 – 1991, between periods of time at sea, Rear Admiral McMahon was an associate professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the Department of Marine Transportation. From 1987 to 1991, he served as the Academy’s Director of Waterfront Activities and Sailing Master.

From 1994 to 2004, Rear Admiral McMahon served as the founding Director of the USMMA Global Maritime and Transportation School (GMATS).  Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on America, Rear Admiral McMahon was appointed by the Secretary of Transportation as Special Assistant to the Secretary.  In this capacity from 2001 through 2002, his duties were primarily related to surface transportation security.  He was promoted to Rear Admiral, United States Maritime Service, by the Secretary of Transportation in 2004 and appointed as the Transportation Counselor and Director of the Iraqi Reconstruction Management Office of Transportation at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.  In 2005, Rear Admiral McMahon was assigned by Secretary Mineta to assist with the reorganization of the USDOT Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response.  In September 2005, he was appointed as Deputy Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Rear Admiral McMahon has graduate degrees from The American University, Long Island University, and Starr King School for the Ministry at the Graduate Theological Union (U.C. Berkeley).  He is also an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and worked part-time with Long Island congregations from 1994-2004.