ARPC commander receives first star

by Lt. Col. Belinda Petersen
Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs

12/24/2013 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Col. Samuel C. Mahaney, Air Reserve Personnel Center commander, was confirmed by the Senate for appointment in the Reserve of the Air Force to the grade brigadier general under title 10, U.S.C., section 12203.

Since date of rank coincides with the date Senate makes confirmations, Mahaney is immediately promoted to the rank of brigadier general effective Dec. 20.

The general, who assumed command of ARPC here Nov. 5, is a 1985 graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

He has served as a B-52 electronic warfare officer, KC-10 aircraft commander, C-5 pilot, C-9A evaluator pilot, chief of a wing standardization/evaluation division, airlift squadron operations officer, operations group commander, wing commander and is currently qualified as both a C-17 and KC-135 pilot.

In addition, he was a Harvard National Security Fellow, Georgetown Legislative Fellow and legislative liaison. Mahaney is also a licensed attorney.

In 2010, Missouri University of Science and Technology awarded him an honorary professional degree in history based on faculty nominations where recipients' professional achievements are a credit to the university.

The general's experience spans a wide variety of aviation functions, duties at the Air Force Headquarters, and liaison duties with Congress. He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours.

ARPC provides personnel support to nearly 1 million Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and retired members, ensuring they are ready to deliver strategic Total Force war fighting capability for the Air Force.