Robert McMahon, assistant Defense Secretary for Sustainment, whose responsibilities include DOD’s recently established PFAS Task Force and resolving privatized military housing problems, has submitted his resignation effective Nov. 22, Task & Purpose reported.
Defense Department spokeswoman Heather Babb confirmed McMahon’s upcoming resignation late last week, according to the report.
“Mr. McMahon appreciates the opportunity to have served the Department both as a civilian and in uniform,” Babb told Task & Purpose, the report said.
McMahon, who has served in DOD’s Sustainment role less than a year, submitted his resignation to the White House on Sept. 17 as routine protocol for political appointees serving at the pleasure of the president. Subordinates were informed McMahon said it “was the right time” but did not elaborate on his decision, according to the report.
McMahon is responsible for $170 billion in Pentagon logistics operations and also oversees DOD’s real estate portfolio including more than 500 installations, 28 million acres, and in excess of 500,000 buildings with a combined value of more than $1 trillion.
His resignation comes amid ongoing efforts to address widespread privatized military housing problems and in June McMahon invited military families to complete an online survey for DOD’s proposed “Resident Bill of Rights.” The survey results have not yet been released, but the Bill of Rights is close to completion, as On Base recently reported.
McMahon’s numerous responsibilities expanded in late July when newly appointed Defense Secretary Mark Esper ordered a PFAS Task Force to address the growing chemical contamination problem on installations and in communities across the nation. Recently the task force released operating principles for addressing the PFAS contamination, as On Base also previously reported.
Prior to his DOD role, McMahon served in the Air Force for 34 years, graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1978. He then served as the military assistant to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, and commander of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., before retiring in 2012 as a major general.
ADC photo by Will Noonan