Captain Mackin is the Program Manager for the Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-262), headquartered in Patuxent River, MD. He assumed command in September 2017 and is responsible for the development, production, fielding, and sustainment of the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) and Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Demonstrator (BAMS-D) programs.

A Scituate, MA, native, Mackin graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1994 with a BS in Electrical Engineering and was commissioned at Holy Cross NROTC. He was designated as Naval Aviator and his first tour was with Patrol Squadron ONE at NAS Whidbey Island, WA. He then reported to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VX-1) and served as the Pilot NATOPS evaluator and P-3C SLAM-ER Operational Test Director. In August 2003, Mackin reported to the USS John C Stennis (CVN-74) as Assistant Navigator. He safely sailed CVN-74 through a WESTPAC deployment, finishing his tour with the first stern-first docking at Bremerton Naval Shipyard. 

Reporting for his Department Head tour with Patrol Squadron TEN, he then qualified as an IUT Instructor. As Maintenance Officer, Mackin deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and 30 detachments to 12 countries in the Western Pacific. He served as Project Director and Senior Pilot, leading numerous efforts to advance the Navy’s sensors and communications capabilities during his tour with Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1). 

Mackin was designated an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer in August 2009 and was assigned as the Strike Planning and Execution (PMA-281) Military Class Desk and S&T Lead, additionally serving as the PMA-281 Convergence IPT Lead until November 2012. He then served as both Deputy and Lead for PMA-262’s MQ-4C Triton Production Team until fall 2014. Mackin served as the Military Deputy Program Manager and Air Anti-Submarine Warfare System Architect at PMA-264 from November 2014 to April 2016.

He was then selected and served as the Military Assistant to the Hon. Frank Kendall, USD(AT&L) from April 2016 to February 2017. Mackin served as Chief of Staff, Program Executive Office (Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons) until August 2017.

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He wears several unit, campaign, and service medals and awards.