Christopher J. Mahoney

Last updated

Christopher J. Mahoney
Gen Christopher J. Mahoney (2).jpg
Official portrait, 2023
Nickname(s)"Moe" [1]
Born Weymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1987–present
Rank General
Commands Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242
Battles / wars Iraq War
Awards Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Alma mater College 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]

Contents

Early life and education

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

After flight training in Florida and Texas and his qualification as an A6-E Intruder pilot, Mahoney deployed to the Indo-Pacific with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, The Bengals. He completed transition training to the F-18 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro and made multiple deployments with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Squadron 122, and Squadron 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]

Smith returned to his full role as commandant on 5 March 2024, and after that Mahoney continued to serve as the assistant commandant. [10] In June 2025, he was nominated to become the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by President Donald Trump. [11] [12]

Awards and decorations [ citation needed ]

U.S. military decorations
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Ribbonstar-bronze.svg Bronze Star Medal with and one bronze award star
Purple Heart ribbon.svg Purple Heart
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal ribbon.svg Ribbonstar-bronze.svg Award numeral 3.png Air Medal with and one bronze award star and bronze Strike/Flight numeral 14
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
U.S. Unit Awards
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal with four service star
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Korea Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with sliver service star and four bronze service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with two bronze service star
NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5).svg NATO Medal
U.S. badges, patches and tabs
USMC Rifle Expert badge.png Rifle Expert Badge (5th award)
USMC Pistol Expert badge.png Pistol Expert Badge (5th award)
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal (2).svg Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 "Brigadier General Christopher J. Mahoney" (PDF). www.hqmc.marines.mil. 15 August 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "General Christopher J. Mahoney - Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps". www.marines.mil.PD-icon.svg 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.
  11. Mitchell, Ellen (18 June 2025). "Trump nominates next chief of naval operations, Joint Chiefs vice chair". The Hill . Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  12. "Secretary of Defense General Officer Announcements for June 20, 2025". U.S. Department of Defense.
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