News
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The USA Table Tennis Board of Directors have announced their selection of Mike Cavanaugh ( Colorado Springs , Colo. ) as Chief Executive Officer for the National Governing Body. Cavanaugh has served in the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer for USA Table Tennis since September 2007 as an Executive on-loan from the United States Olympic Committee. Since that time, he has helped guide the organization through the governance and reform process. As CEO, Cavanaugh will continue to lead the USA Table Tennis staff as they work to implement the Board's vision of developing a team of internationally competitive table tennis athletes for the U.S. , thereby growing the sport of table tennis in the United States .
"We are very pleased that Mike Cavanaugh has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer for USA Table Tennis," said Peter Scudner ( Lancaster , Pa. ), Chairman of the Board for USA Table Tennis. "Mike has been exceptional in helping guide USA Table Tennis through the biggest transition the organization has ever faced with the governance and reform process. After conducting a national search, we believe there is no one better equipped to lead our NGB in the role of Chief Executive Officer than Mike."
Following the seating of the new USA Table Tennis Board of Directors, a CEO Search Committee, Chaired by Michael Babuin, PhD ( Cary , N.C. ), an At-Large Representative of the Board, was established to select the organization's CEO. Following a thorough review of many highly qualified candidates, the Search Committee, put forth Mike Cavanaugh for confirmation by the full board in October, which was quickly approved.
Cavanaugh came to USA Table Tennis from the United States Olympic Committee where he oversaw the sport of team handball as the USOC Manager of High Performance from 2006-2007 as that sport went through the process of selecting a new National Governing Body. Cavanaugh has extensive experience with the sport of team handball serving two stints as Executive Director of USA Team Handball from 1986-1997 and again from 1999-2005. During this time he also served on the USOC Games Prep Committee from 1989-1992 and the USOC Committee on Sports for the Disabled from 1993-1996 and then as Chairman in both 1997 and 2000. Cavanaugh got his administrative start in the Olympic Movement as the Sport Manager and Competition Director for Team Handball for the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles , Calif. To date, Cavanaugh has worked seven Olympic Games, one Olympic Winter Games, as well as one Paralympic Games and one Paralympic Winter Games.
Born in Ft. Dodge , Iowa , Cavanaugh graduated from De La Salle Institute in Chicago , Ill. before serving two years of active duty in the United States Army (1970-1972) in 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry - Presidential Ceremonial Unit - The Old Guard. After leaving the Army, Cavanaugh went on to receive both his Bachelor's (1974) and a Master's (1976) degrees in Kinesiology from UCLA. While attending UCLA, Cavanaugh was also a member of the USA Team Handball National Team from 1973-1976. Following his competitive career, he served as USA Team Handball National Team Coach from 1978-1980. Cavanaugh has kept his foot in the coaching door, serving as a volunteer coach for the United States Air Force Academy Team Handball Team in Colorado Springs for a number of years.
"I am very honored by the trust the USA Table Tennis Board of Directors have placed in me to lead this organization as Chief Executive Officer," said Cavanaugh. "With the governance and reform process behind us, I believe that USA Table Tennis has unlimited potential. With our athletes coming off of the best ever U.S. Olympic performance at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China and the outstanding performance of our younger athletes in events this year, I believe the future is bright for USA Table Tennis. As witnessed with our 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Philadelphia , Pa. , there is also huge potential for expanding the popularity of our sport in the United States ."
Cavanaugh and his wife Pamela Lynn make their home in Colorado Springs . They have four children, Kristen Cavanaugh (22), Michael John Cavanaugh (18), Jarrold Shiroma (38) and Christopher Shiroma (33).