John N. McMahon

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

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.

McMahon joined the CIA in 1951 or 1966.

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

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.

On March 4, 1986, McMahon, age 56, resigned and left office on March 26, succeeded by Robert M. Gates.

"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."

President Reagan expressed regret at his resignation.

In August 1986, McMahon joined Lockheed Martin Corporation as an executive vice president for plans and programs in its Missiles & Space Company.

Questioning McMahon during his nomination included US Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan (who guided publication of the VENONA papers in the mid-1990s).

In 1995, McMahon was president and CEO of Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.

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

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.