McKinney to Address 2018 USC Sumter Graduates

Sumter, SC (04/03/2018) — USC Sumter's annual Commencement ceremony will be held Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the USC Sumter Nettles Building Auditorium.

Christopher H. McKinney will address the graduates.

McKinney is executive director of the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments where he facilitates the strategic vision and oversees all assistance provided to Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties and associated municipalities.

A native of Texas, he earned an associate degree in meteorology from the Community College of the Air Force. He also holds a bachelor's degree in business management from American Military University and a master's degree in organizational leadership from Columbia Southern University.

Shortly before being named executive director in October 2017, McKinney retired from active duty in the United States Air Force, after more than 30 years of service. He served as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina, where he was an executive advisor to the wing commander and a senior enlisted leader.

McKinney was responsible for the training and professional development of more than 8,500 military personnel and the morale and welfare of more than 31,000 families and retirees at the nation's largest F-16 combat fighter wing in the Combatant Air Forces.

Prior to his assignment at Shaw Air Force Base, McKinney was the group superintendent in the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin AFB, Florida, where he was an executive advisor to the operations group commander. He has served in numerous leadership roles and performed various functions as a meteorologist in the Air Force. His military service includes four combat tours of duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan.

McKinney serves as a member of the board of directors for the YMCA of Sumter. He is married to the former Danya Foster, and they have a blended family of six children.

###

Media Attachments