Speaker Series: "The Global Maritime Industry, Merchant Ships and How They Make the Global Economy Possible"

Chatham Marconi Welcomes RADM Christopher J. McMahon to its Speaker Series

This talk paints a vivid picture of life at sea and shines a light on the critical role the merchant marine plays in the strategic and economic health of the United States and the world. 

About Our Speaker

CHRISTOPHER J. MCMAHON is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, where he graduated with a B.S. in Marine Transportation, a commission as Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve and a Merchant Marine third mate (officer) license.  He sailed for more than a decade aboard U.S. flag merchant vessels engaged in worldwide trade. He is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed unlimited Master of Steam and Motor Vessels with a Master of Sail endorsement.

Beginning in 1984, in between periods at sea and as a commissioned U.S. Maritime Service (USMS) officer, Professor McMahon served as an associate professor of Marine Transportation and Nautical Science at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and later as Director of Waterfront Activities and Sailing Master.  He was founding Director of the Global Maritime and Transportation School (GMATS).

Following the September 11^th attacks on America in 2001, the Secretary of Transportation appointed Professor McMahon as his Special Assistant responsible for coordinating surface transportation security.  He was promoted by the Secretary to Rear Admiral (Lower Half), U.S. Maritime Service in 2004 and to Rear Admiral (Upper Half) in 2005.  During this period, he was assigned to Iraq as the Transportation Counselor to the Ambassador and Multi-National Forces Iraq and as Director of the Iraqi Reconstruction Management Office of Transportation. In that capacity, he was responsible for rebuilding Iraq’s airports, seaports, railroads, and other transportation infrastructure. He later served as Acting Director of the Department of Transportation’s Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response.  From 2006 to 2008, he served as Deputy Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  He has held other SES positions with the Department of Transportation as well.

RADM McMahon has graduate degrees from the American University (Business), Long Island University (Counseling), and Starr King School (Divinity) at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California.  He is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and he is currently the minister at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House in Chatham.  RADM McMahon has numerous awards and decorations including, among others, a Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the years 1994-2005, two Secretary of Transportation Gold Medals (2004, 2005) and a Maritime Administration Bronze Medal.  He joined the Nichols College faculty in August 2022 as an adjunct professor of “Leadership” and “World Religions.” Before retiring from federal service in 2021, he served as the Chair of Merchant Marine Affairs at the Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island – detailed from the U.S. Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.