John N. McMahon
15th Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
In office
April 27, 1982 – March 26, 1986
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byBobby Ray Inman
Succeeded byRobert Gates
Personal details
Born
John Norman McMahon

(1929-07-03) July 3, 1929 (age 94)
East Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Spouse
Margaret Joan Hugger
​
​
(m. 1952)​
Children4
Parents
  • Frederick Francis McMahon (father)
  • Elizabeth (Collins) McMahon (mother)
EducationCollege of Holy Cross
Military service
Allegiance United States

John N. McMahon (born July 3, 1929) is a former senior U.S. official of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Background

John Norman McMahon was born on July 3, 1929, in East Norwalk, Connecticut. His parents were Frederick Francis McMahon and Elizabeth Collins. In 1951, he obtained a bachelor's degree from the College of Holy Cross.[1][2]

Career

CIA

McMahon joined the CIA in 1951[3] or 1966.[4]

He served as Deputy Director for Operations from January 11, 1978, to April 12, 1981, and later, nominated by US President Ronald Reagan, as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence under Director William J. Casey as of April 27, 1982, succeeding Bobby Ray Inman.[5][6][7] Questioning McMahon during his nomination included US Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan (who guided publication of the VENONA papers in the mid-1990s).[8]

On March 4, 1986, McMahon, age 56, resigned and left office on March 26, succeeded by Robert M. Gates.[4] "McMahon had clashed with Capitol Hill conservatives who considered him less than zealous in his support of aid to guerrilla fighters in Afghanistan and Nicaragua."[7] President Reagan expressed regret at his resignation.[7]

Lockheed Martin

In August 1986, McMahon joined Lockheed Martin Corporation as an executive vice president for plans and programs in its Missiles & Space Company.[9] In 1995, McMahon was president and CEO of Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.[10]

In 2004, McMahon was registered as a lobbyist for the Lockheed Martin Corporation.[11]

Post-career

In May 2015, 20 ex-CIA officials, including McMahon, signed a letter opposing the decision by The New York Times to publish the names of three undercover officers working for the CIA.[12]

Awards

Personal life

On April 15, 1952, McMahon married Margaret Joan Hugger, with whom he had four children: Patricia Joy, Christopher John, Timothy Richard, and Peter Collins.

References

  1. ^ "AN INTERVIEW WITH FORMER DDCI JOHN N. MCMAHON". Central Intelligence Agency. February 8, 2007.
  2. ^ "A CIA LOYALIST WHO HAD DOUBTS ON ARMS TRANSFERS" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  3. ^ "Spook No. 2". Time. 1982-05-10. Archived from the original on November 23, 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  4. ^ a b "NO. 2 MAN RESIGNS POST AT THE CIA". Chicago Tribune. 5 March 1986. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  5. ^ "John Norman McMahon". Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  6. ^ "MAN IN THE NEWS; C.I.A. EXPERT FOR INMAN POST". New York Times. 2 April 1982. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  7. ^ a b c "No. 2 CIA Man Quits Post; No Shake-up Seen". New York Times. 5 March 1986. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Nomination of John N. McMahon: Hearing Before the Select Committee on Intelligence of the United States Senate, Ninety-seventh Congress, Second Session, on Nomination of John N. McMahon to be Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, May 26, 27, 1982" (PDF). US GPO. 1982. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  9. ^ Yoshishara, Nancy (5 August 1986). "4 Senior Lockheed Officials to Retire; 2 From Burbank". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  10. ^ a b "John N. McMahon". Aviation Week. 9 January 1995. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Lobbying Report (John N. McMahon)". Federation of American Scientists. 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  12. ^ "20 Ex-C.I.A. Officials Fault The Times". New York Times. May 11, 2015.

External sources

Government offices Preceded byBobby Ray Inman Deputy Director of Central Intelligence June 10, 1982 – March 29, 1986 Succeeded byRobert Gates


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