Samuel C. Mahaney

Samuel C. Mahaney is a retired Air Force Major General (2 Star General) with 36 years of dedicated service. His final assignment was as the Chief of Staff at Air Mobility Command. In that role, he led a team of 3,500 personnel, optimizing strategic processes and overseeing critical airlift, aerial refueling, and mobility support missions for 107,000 Airmen worldwide. With a proven track record in high-stakes military operations, Samuel accumulated over 5,100 flying hours in various aircraft types, piloting numerous combat missions in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Somolia, and other undisclosed locations. He held key leadership positions and commanded large combat organizations, underscoring his deep commitment to national security. His Award and Decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Air Force Achievement Medal, among many others.

Samuel further enhanced his national security credentials through advanced academic and professional endeavors. As a National Security Fellow at Harvard University, he engaged in rigorous policy analysis and strategic planning to address complex global security challenges. During his Georgetown Legislative Fellowship on Capitol Hill, he served on the staff of the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee for Defense as a Military Legislative Assistant and Appropriations Liaison. He attended the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany and is a licensed attorney in Illinois. He taught Federal Appropriations Law at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Currently, Samuel leverages his extensive experience in policy development and strategic leadership as the Director of the Missouri S&T Policy and Armed Forces Research and Development Institute, fostering innovative research and rapid development to enhance U.S. national security and global stability. He is also a lecturer of History, Constitutional Law, National Security, and Leadership at Missouri S&T.