[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12258-12259]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CONGRATULATING REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL McMAHON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. NORMAN D. DICKS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2011

  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Rear Admiral 
Michael McMahon, United States Navy, a resident of my home

[[Page 12259]]

state of Washington, on his upcoming retirement August 11 after 4 years 
as Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers and 32 years service 
to his country.
  Rear Admiral Michael E. McMahon was commissioned in 1979 from the 
University of Colorado where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 
Mechanical Engineering. He has also earned a Master of Science Degree 
in Mechanical Engineering in 1986 from the Naval Postgraduate School 
and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering/Materials 
Science from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1996.
  Rear Admiral McMahon's sea assignments included engineering tours 
onboard USS Richard S. Edwards (DD 950), USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), 
USS Ranger (CV 61), and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as Chief Engineer. 
Rear Admiral McMahon's shore assignments included Ship Design Manager, 
Future Aircraft Carriers Program (CITNX), Naval Sea Systems Command, 
PMS-378, and Program Director, Future Aircraft Carrier Program (CVNX), 
Naval Sea Systems Command, PMS-378. He has served as Engineering and 
Planning Officer and Business Officer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and 
IMF. Rear Admiral McMahon has also served as Executive Secretary to the 
Naval Research Advisory Committee and Government Advisor to the Defense 
Science Board. In August 2004, he reported as Supervisor of 
Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, USN, Newport News, Virginia 
responsible for the U.S. Navy's Aircraft Carrier and Submarine Ship 
Construction, refueling and repair programs at Northrop Grumman Newport 
News. On 3 December 2007, Rear Admiral McMahon assumed command as the 
fifth Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers.
  Rear Admiral McMahon distinguished himself in every aspect of his 
demanding and complex assignment as the Program Executive Officer for 
Aircraft Carriers. During his tour he led the effort to begin 
construction of the Navy's first aircraft carrier design in 40 years, 
the Gerald R. Ford Class, and achieved the major milestone of laying 
the keel of the first ship of the class, CVN 78, in 2009. He also 
oversaw the beginning of advanced construction of the second aircraft 
carrier in the class, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), in 2011.
  Rear Admiral McMahon provided capable leadership for in-service 
aircraft carrier programs at PEO Aircraft Carriers. He organized the 
Naval Sea System Command's support for the time-critical fire 
restoration of USS George Washington (CVN 73). His leadership was key 
in driving successful delivery of CVN 73 back to the Fleet to support 
critical Forward Deployed Naval Forces missions. He also oversaw the 
successful commissioning and delivery of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) 
the last Nimitz class aircraft carrier, which transitioned from 
delivery to deployment in only 24 months. During his tenure the 
Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) was 
completed under budget and the RCOH of USS Theordore Roosevelt was 
begun. He also oversaw the last drydocking of the Nation's oldest 
aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and worked to begin the 
planning for the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier inactivation.
  Rear Admiral McMahon's decorations include the Legion of Merit, the 
Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal (two 
awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Liberation of Kuwait Medals (Kuwait 
and Saudi Arabia), Southwest Asia Service Medal, Navy Expeditionary 
Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, 
Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Medal, and Sea Service 
Deployment Ribbon.
  For his many years of service to our Nation, I join my colleagues in 
extending our best wishes upon his retirement and wish him ongoing 
success in all future endeavors.

                          ____________________