Meet a Pillar of San Diego

RADM John “Mac” McLaughlin, USN (Ret.)
President & CEO, USS Midway Museum

On Feb. 15 2023. MOWW San Diego will be honored to present RADM John “Mac” McLaughlin, USN (Ret.) at our monthly meeting. He will discuss bis military service, the path that led him to this prominent position and his impactful work in our community.

MOWW February Luncheon
Where: San Diego Unified School District – Revere Center
6735 Gifford Way, Room 8
San Diego, CA 92111
Keynote Speaker: RADM Mac McLaughlin, President & CEO, USS Midway Museum
When: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023
Meet and Greet at 11:00 a.m.; Program 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Attire: Business casual
Open to the Public
Lunch: A delicious catered lunch with 2 sides, and drink is available for only $12 per person
**RSVP required: Please contact COL Tim Swann at (858) 496-8203 or by email at tswann@sandi.net

BACKGROUND: Mac McLaughlin is President & Chief Executive Officer of the USS Midway Museum. He was hired as the Chief Operating Officer in December 2003, one month prior to the Midway’s arrival in San Diego and has been the chief executive throughout the building of the Museum. 

Prior to joining the Midway, Mac retired from the Navy as a Rear Admiral in August 2003. During his career as a Naval Aviator, he served as a Commanding Officer of a helicopter squadron and Naval Air Station. He served two tours of duty in the Pentagon on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff and served Flag tours as Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force and Naval Reserve Forces Command. 

Mac is the former President of the Historic Naval Ships Association and the former Chair of the Naval Helicopter Association. He is a board member for the San Diego Port Tenants Association, and a member of the American Association of Museums and the California Association of Museums. 

Mac graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972 where he was an All-American and Captain of the track team. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Troy State University. He is married to the former Norah Anne Flynn of Chula Vista and they have two adult children, Kathleen and Stephen and six grandchildren.

Meet a Retired Navy Mineman & Community leader
What: Monthly MOWW Luncheon
Who: Vic Martin, Executive Director at Warrior Resource Project & MOWW Chapter Patriot
Where: Revere Center
San Diego Unified School District
6735 Gifford Way, Room 8
San Diego, CA 92111
(Enter Conference Room marked with signs from parking lot)
When: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Attire: Business casual
Details: Open to the public and members.
Lunch: A delicious meatloaf lunch with 2 sides, drinks and cornbread is available for only $12 per person.
RSVP required: Lunch reservations are required. Please contact COL Tim Swann at (858) 496-8203 or by email at tswann@sandi.net

BACKGROUND: Medically-retired Navy Mineman, Victor E. Martin, is an advocate, educator and keynote speaker focused on veteran issues related to active-duty service members transitioning into civilian/veteran life and on those struggling with reintegration while living with mental health diagnoses. Through his own experiences, he has developed a level of understanding, patience and empathy that allows for true peer-to-peer mentorship and leadership. 

Mr. Martin holds numerous leadership positions within the community, to include: 2022-2023 Commander at American Legion Post 275 in La Jolla, Executive Director at Warrior Resource Project, and Professional Mentor at the University of California San Marcos School of Business.  He is honored to have spoken to thousands of people, at hundreds of locations, about mental illness and what we can do to better support our own mental health through the use of various tools; including therapy, yoga, hiking, art, and gardening.   Currently, Mr. Martin resides in La Mesa with his wife Kacy, and is father to son Rawley and two daughters, Violet and Skarlet.