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Christopher J. Mahoney

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Christopher J. Mahoney
Official portrait, 2023
Nickname(s)"Moe"[1]
BornWeymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1987–present
RankGeneral
CommandsAssistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Marine Aircraft Group 12
VMFA(AW)-242
Battles / warsIraq War
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Alma materCollege of the Holy Cross (BA)
University of Canberra (MA)
Air War College (MA)

Christopher J. Mahoney is a United States Marine Corps general who serves as the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps since 2023. In that capacity, he was also the acting commandant of the Marine Corps from 2023 to 2024. He previously served as the deputy commandant for programs and resources from 2021 to 2023.[2][3][4][5][6]

Early life and education

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Born in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, Mahoney graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in June 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program.[7] He completed The Basic School (TBS) and the Infantry Officer Course (IOC) at Quantico, Virginia in 1988.[8]

After flight training, he was designated a naval aviator in May 1990. Mahoney later earned a master's degree in management from the University of Canberra in December 2001 and a second master's degree in international strategic relations from the Air War College in May 2007.[7] He has also graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI), the Marine Division Tactics Course (MDTC), the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), and the Australian Command and Staff College.[8]

Marine Corps career

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After flight training in Florida and Texas and his qualification as an A6-E Intruder pilot, Mahoney deployed to the Indo-Pacific with VMA (AW)-224, The Bengals. He completed transition training to the F-18 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro and made multiple deployments with VMFA (AW)-224, VMFA-122 and VMFA (AW)-242 to the Indo-Pacific, Italy, and Iraq, based out of MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, and MCAS Miramar, California. Additionally, Mahoney served a tour as an instructor at the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 (MAWTS-1) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona.[8] As a pilot he has over 5,000 hours of flight time in the A-6, F-5, F-18, and the F-35, and he is also a qualified Forward Air Controller and parachutist.[8]

He has held command at the squadron, group and wing levels. He completed a Joint Force tour as Chief of Staff of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, and he served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps (HQMC).[8]

His General Officer duties include Deputy Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific; Director of Strategy and Plans at HQMC; Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces, Japan; Commanding General, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; and Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, HQMC.[8] In the latter role, Mahoney was the fiscal director of the Marine Corps, and defended Force Design 2030.[1]

In July 2023, Mahoney was nominated for promotion to general and appointment as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.[9] His confirmation vote was delayed by the hold placed by Senator Tommy Tuberville on all military nominations.[1] General Mahoney was sworn in as the 37th assistant commandant of the Marine Corps on 3 November 2023.[8] At the same time he also became the acting commandant of the United States Marine Corps, because the commandant, General Eric Smith, had been hospitalized after a heart attack. Mahoney took over the acting commandant role from Lieutenant General Karsten Heckl, who had been the next highest ranking officer during the absence of an assistant commandant.[1]

General Smith returned to his full role as commandant on 5 March 2024, and since then Mahoney continued to work as the assistant commandant.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Loewenson, Irene (2 November 2023). "No. 2 Marine confirmed by Senate amid top Marine's health crisis". Marine Corps Times.
  2. ^ "PN743 – 1 nominee for Marine Corps, 117th Congress (2021–2022)". www.congress.gov. 23 June 2021.
  3. ^ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 2 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Major General Christopher J. Mahoney". www.3rdmaw.marines.mil.
  5. ^ "U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, deputy commanding general visits Peacekeeping Ops Center". www.marforpac.marines.mil.
  6. ^ "U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, deputy commander visits Khaan Quest opening ceremonies". www.marforpac.marines.mil.
  7. ^ a b "Brigadier General Christopher J. Mahoney" (PDF). www.hqmc.marines.mil. 15 August 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "General Christopher J. Mahoney - Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps". www.marines.mil. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ "PN881 — Lt. Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney — Marine Corps, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Gen Smith Returns to Full Duty Status as Commandant". www.marines.mil. 5 March 2024.
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Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
2020–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources of the United States Marine Corps
2021–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
2023–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Commandant of the Marine Corps
Acting
2023–2024 		Succeeded by
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