Lieutenant General Christopher J. Mahoney Promoted to Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps
The military branch is led by General Eric Smith, who is currently hospitalized.
The U.S. Senate today held a recorded vote to confirm one individual nominated by President Joe Biden to serve in a command post of the U.S. Military - specifically as second-in-command of the U.S. Marine Corps, one of the country’s six branches of the armed forces.
In an 86-0 vote, Lieutenant General Christopher J. Mahoney was promoted to General and confirmed as Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. The position has been vacant since September 2023, when General Eric M. Smith was promoted to Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Mahoney has served as the Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources since August 2021. He was nominated for this promotion and appointment in July 2023.
Joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1987, Mahoney has commanded the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA-242), the Marine Aircraft Group 12, and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Mahoney’s confirmation took on new urgency in the Senate this week after General Smith was hospitalized following a medical emergency. Hundreds of military promotions and appointments have been held up in the Senate due to a blockade Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) started in February. That has created vacancies throughout the top ranks of military leadership, resulting in many individuals serving two or more jobs.
Before Mahoney is sworn into his new role, Lieutenant General Karsten Heckl has stepped in to perform the duties of the Commandant. Typically, the job would fall to the Assistant Commandant. That wasn’t possible due to the vacancy and Smith essentially fulfilling the duties of that role as well. Heckl was tapped simply because he was the highest-ranking individual currently serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. These new responsibilities were in addition to the two jobs he has already been serving in as a result of Tuberville’s actions. So, he’s essentially had the pressure of four high-stress jobs over the last few days.