Board Certified Specialist in Family Law since 2001
Born in 1954 at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas to an Air Force family, Mr. McNamara was one of seven siblings who grew up moving around the country and overseas following his parents to a number of different duty stations.
He graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland in 1973 and moved on to attend the United States Naval Academy; graduating in 1977. Mr. McNamara then served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry officer and was qualified in the military as a parachutist, jumpmaster, Ranger, SCUBA Diver, and Dive Supervisor. He left active service in 1989 to attend the Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. Called back to active duty as a result of Operation Desert Shield/Storm for a year in 1991, he did not graduate with his Juris Doctor Degree until 1993.
He started practicing family law as an associate with Thomas J. Pitman Law Office in Jacksonville, North Carolina until he opened his own practice in 1995. He had the solo practice of McNamara Law Firm until 1997 when he became a partner in McNamara & Smith, PLLC. In 2007 he went back out on his own with McNamara Law Firm, PC where the practice has grown to include 3 associates and 5 staff members. On July 1, 2016 the firm transitioned to McNamara, Lycans & Sholar, PC where he is now the senior partner.
Mr. McNamara was initially recognized as a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law by the North Carolina State Bar in 2001 and was recertified in 2007 and 2012. He has been practicing family law in the Courts of Onslow, Jones and Duplin County for over 20 years. He also continued to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve until his retirement in 2003 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Mr. McNamara is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association-Family Law Section, and the Onslow County Bar Association where he also served as President in 2011-2012.
Mr. McNamara has been volunteering twice each month at the North Carolina Aquarium-Pine Knoll Shores since 2011 as a SCUBA diving member of the Wednesday A team. That team was designated as the Dive Team of the Year in 2014.
Mr. McNamara’s interests have included playing, refereeing and coaching youth soccer; running; boating; and currently SCUBA diving with his children and friends.
Mr. McNamara has been married to his wife Joanne Beacham McNamara since 1986 and they are the parents of three children and have two grandchildren. They attend First Baptist Church on Gum Branch Road where he has served as a Deacon and as a member and Chairman of the Finance Committee.
Admitted
- North Carolina, 1993
Education
- U.S. Naval Academy, 1977
- Campbell University, J.D.
Associations and memberships
- Onslow County and North Carolina (Member, Family Law Section) Bar Associations
Military
- Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
- Retired 2003