HUNTSVILLE – Cited for a “legacy of leadership and service,” Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon received the Distinguished Service Award from the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

Outgoing Chamber Board Chair Lynn Troy made the presentation Tuesday at the organization’s 88th annual membership meeting.

Also at the meeting, Troy passed the gavel to incoming Board Chair Sameer Singhal. Singhal is President and CEO of CFD Research in Cummings Research Park.

The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor the Chamber bestows to an individual in the Huntsville/Madison County community.

McCutcheon has a long history of service to the community and nation, including serving in the Army, as a Huntsville police officer, an Alabama state representative, and  ultimately, as the 66th Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, before retiring from office.

He was appointed county commission chair by Gov. Kay Ivey in January 2023, after former Chair Dale Strong was elected to Congress. 

“Mac answered the call and is doing an incredible job serving all of us again,” said Troy, president of Troy7. “Throughout his remarkable career, he has epitomized the values of integrity, dedication, and selflessness.

“Mac’s legacy of service and leadership has left an indelible mark on our community and state that will endure for generations to come.” 

Cassi Chandler was the keynote speaker for the luncheon. Chandler served as the FBI’s first female African-American special agent assistant director as well as the bureau’s first female national spokesperson and director of public and community affairs.

Chandler is founder, president, and CEO of Vigeo Alliance, a leadership and talent risk management partner helping organizations elevate their cultures through diversity and inclusion.