McMahon expected to be named 21st Century Partnership’s new leader

WARNER ROBINS -- The 21st Century Partnership is expected to announce Thursday that recently retired Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon will be its new leader.

Retired Maj. Gen. Rick Goddard, senior adviser to the organization, said an announcement on the position would be made Thursday, but he wouldn’t say whether it would be McMahon. A source familiar with the search confirmed Tuesday it is expected to be McMahon.

The selection is certain to be popular with community leaders, who have called McMahon not only an effective commander at Robins Air Force Base, but one of the most active in reaching out to the community.

McMahon served as commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center for 20 months before retiring Friday. An Ohio native, he served 34 years in the Air Force in a wide variety of positions. He was credited with leading a turnaround in which Robins went from finishing less than half of its aircraft on time to a 98 percent on-time delivery rate, while also guiding significant improvements in safety and quality.

Perry Mayor Jimmy Faircloth said he wasn’t familiar with the search or who was being considered for the job, but he fully supported the idea of putting McMahon in the position.

“If he happens to be the choice, I think it is an excellent selection,” Faircloth said. “He is definitely clued into the needs of the Air Force and knows what needs to be done to keep this base viable. He is a very smart man and capable.”

The job has been vacant since former Executive Director MaryTherese Tebbe left the post in March to be director of public relations for the Georgia National Guard in Atlanta.

The partnership works to protect jobs at the base and tries to bring in new missions, but its most important role is to defend the base in the event of a Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

The announcement on the executive director’s post will be made at the partnership’s regular quarterly meeting Thursday at the Museum of Aviation. Goddard said the executive board may also vote on a change in the structure of the organization. While he declined to get into specifics, he said the group’s new leader may have a different title.

In an earlier interview, McMahon declined to say whether he was interested in a job with the 21st Century Partnership.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published June 19, 2012 at 1:58 PM with the headline "McMahon expected to be named 21st Century Partnership’s new leader ."