Col. Kevin A. McMahon is the Vice Commander, Space Base Delta 1, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. He leads a 2,500- member team providing Base Operating Support to more than 18,400 military, Department of Defense civilians and contractor personnel serving at 23 operating locations. These personnel execute critical U.S. Space Force missile warning; space domain awareness; space control; position, navigation and timing; satellite communications; electronic warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and cyberspace missions. He is also responsible for installation support for the headquarters of North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Space Command, and 50 additional mission partners.
Col. McMahon graduated from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2000 and received his commission through Officer Training School. A career Security Forces Officer, he served as a Flight Commander, Operations Officer and five times as a Squadron Commander. His experience in the security forces career field ranges from law enforcement, anti-terrorism, air base defense, and contingency deployments. Additionally, he served as a Deputy Mission Support Group Commander and Political Affairs Strategist serving INDOPACOM as Australia Country Director. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Director, Nuclear Surety and Exercises, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Virginia.
EDUCATION
2000 - Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in History, as well as Criminology and Law Studies, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis.
2001 - United States Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2002 - Air Force Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2002 - Security Forces Basic Officer Course (Level IV), Lackland AFB and Camp Bullis, Texas
2003 - Security Forces Commanders Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2005 - Joint/Multinational Intelligence in Combating Terrorism Course, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
2007 - Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 - Security Forces Advanced Officer Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2012 - Master’s Degree in Military Studies Strategic Leadership, American Military University, Charles Town, W. Va.
2013 - Master’s Degree in Military Operation Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 - Emergency Management, Emergency Operations Center Director Course, Barnes Center, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 - Master's Degree in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2001 – September 2003, Flight Commander, 1st Security Forces Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, (January 2003 - May 2003, Officer in Charge, Force Protection Detachment, USNS Observation Island)
2. September 2003 – October 2004, Flight Commander, 31st Security Forces Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
3. October 2004 – September 2005, Executive Officer, 31st Security Forces Squadron/31st Mission Support Group, Aviano AB, Italy
4. November 2005 – January 2009, Operations Officer, 14th Security Forces Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss. (August 2006 – March 2007, Corps Level Planner and Law and Order Officer in Charge, Multi-National Corps-Iraq Provost Marshal Office, Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq) (January 2009 – January 2010, Afghan National Army Air Corps Security Forces Commander Mentor and SF Team Lead, 438th Air Expeditionary Advisor Group, Kabul, Afghanistan)
5. February 2010 – May 2010, Operations Officer, 14th Security Forces Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
6. May 2010 – August 2011, Commander, 90th Security Support Squadron, F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
7. August 2011 – July 2012, Commander, 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
8. August 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2013 – June 2015, Australia Country Director, USPACOM, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
10. July 2015 – June 2017, Commander, 92d Security Forces Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
11. June 2017 – June 2019, Deputy Commander, 31 Mission Support Group, Aviano AB, Italy
12. June 2019 – June 2020, Commander, 39th Security Forces Squadron, Incirlik AB, Turkey
13. July 2020 – May 2021, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. May 2021 – May 2022, Chief, Security Operations Division, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
15. May 2022 – June 2024, Director, Nuclear Surety and Exercises, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Va.
16. July 2024 – Present, Vice Commander, Space Base Delta 1, Peterson SFB, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2013 – June 2015, Australia Country Director, USPACOM, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii as a Major
2. May 2022 – June 2024, Director, Nuclear Surety and Exercises, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Va., as a Colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Navy Unit Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Humanitarian Service Medal
NATO Medal-Former Republic of Yugoslavia
Air Force Expeditionary Ribbon with device \
U.S. Air Force Expert Marksmanship Ribbon for M-9 and M-4
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Air Force Air and Space Basic Course Exceptional Performer Award
2007 Top Third Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2007 Outstanding Contributor Award, Squadron Officer School
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 28, 2001
First Lieutenant June 28, 2003
Captain June 28, 2005
Major Sept. 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 2016
Colonel Nov. 1, 2022
(Current as of August 2024)