Erin McMahon

Erin McMahon JD ’98, a former principal deputy general counsel for the US National Guard Bureau and a retired US Army Brigadier General, has been appointed by Governor Tina Kotek to lead the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM). McMahon has 24 years of experience advising state and national leaders on emergent and active emergencies requiring operational and civilian support. In her role as principal deputy general counsel for the US National Guard Bureau, McMahon advised federal leaders on the 2021 Oregon wildfires as more than 1,000 blazes burned at least 518,300 acres across the state. In that same role, McMahon also spearheaded several groundbreaking programs for the Department of Defense to combat sexual assault in the military. Her efforts were vital to increasing reporting and investigation options, ensuring a more timely and effective response and providing recovery resources for victims. Most recently, McMahon was a senior advisor at the McChrystal Group in Virginia, where she provided executive leader training, coaching, and mentorship to assist organizational leaders in developing teams, improving employee relations, building trust, and eliminating confusion.