At the biennial Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) Women Veterans Conference, a gathering that honors the service and strength of the state’s women veterans, Erin McMahon, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Director and a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General, shared insights from her 24 years in military and emergency leadership, as reported by the Oregon government’s newsroom.
Held on September 27 at the Riverhouse Lodge Conference and Events Center in Bend, the conference, which started in 1998, chose “Stronger Together: Community and Connection” as its theme for 2025 to foster unity among the attendees, it was during this event that McMahon noted, “Women veterans bring extraordinary leadership, perspective, and strength to every role they serve in,” and continued, emphasizing the significance of lifting each other up and leading with compassion and courage, in a statement obtained by the Oregon government’s newsroom.
The recognition of McMahon's contributions didn’t stop with applause, as ODVA Director Dr. Nakeia Daniels presented her with a framed set of Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs challenge coins; Dr. Daniels was quoted as saying, “Director McMahon’s record of service and leadership is truly exceptional, and we are honored to recognize her contributions to our state and our nation,” as she commended the partnership between their agencies in working to bolster local communities.
Before McMahon took her current position at OEM in 2023, she served as Principal Deputy General Counsel for the National Guard Bureau, where her leadership was critical during times of domestic crisis such as hurricanes, wildfires, and the pandemic; she also led efforts to better address sexual assault in the military, initiatives that are still impacting federal policy and fostering culture change today, and this conference which attracted hundreds of women veterans signifying their eras from World War II up to the modern-day conflicts, reflects Oregon’s growing numbers, now representing more than 10% of the state’s veteran population as per the ODVA.
McMahon’s participation at the conference marks a continued dedication from OEM to emphasize community resilience, inclusion, and leadership in all areas of service. For those interested in learning more about the Oregon Women Veterans Conference or want to stay informed on future events, the ODVA website has not only updates but also a subscription option for email notifications.
