Cedric McGhee Square- March 2025

Cedric L. McGhee, P.E.

  • Chair
  • ACT-SO
  • NSBE President Emeritus
  • Civil Engineer
  • The Ohio State University, BS
  • University of Dayton, MS

Cedric McGhee grew up as a resident of the Five Oaks neighborhood northwest of downtown Dayton. With the help of many, Mr. McGhee studied civil engineering at The Ohio State University (1991-1996). From there, he started working at his current employer, The Montgomery County Engineer’s Office. Eventually, he earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Dayton 2004. In 2007, Mr. McGhee was one of very few African-American engineers to earn a professional engineer’s license from the Ohio State Board of Registered Engineer’s and Surveyors. Mr. McGhee currently works as the assistant bridge engineer. He designs or reviews bridge designs for Montgomery County projects. While working for the Montgomery County Engineer’s Office for the past 23 years, Mr. McGhee has spent many of his off-work hours in volunteerism. He devoted time to Project Reach Ministries and his home church ~Aspire Church in the youth and adult prison ministry for several years prior to 2008. This prepared Mr. McGhee for his volunteer work today as the ACT-SO (Afro-Academic Cultural Technological and Scientific Olympics) Chair. 

In 2008, Mr. McGhee was introduced to the NAACP ACT-SO Program by former Chairlady Linda Bolds and by current ACT-SO co-chair, Sylvan Davis. Just as an ACT-SO chairman alone, Mr. McGhee had the fortune and opportunity to mentor several talented young men and women from all walks of life. Mr. McGhee has a passion for his students to succeed in life even beyond ACT-SO. With some encouragement, he’s seen ACT-SO students grow and improve academically, spiritedly, and emotionally. No achievement medal is bigger than seeing how students increase their self-esteem and confidence. In 2016, Mr. McGhee earned the 2016 Dayton Unit- Youth Empowerment Award. As treasurer for the NAACP, Mr. McGhee has a good financial team keeping good stewardship of the budget. Working along with Dr. Foward, the Dayton NAACP financial status has consistently remained in good standing.

Mr. McGhee is also currently, President Emeritus and secretary of the National Society of Black Engineers-Dayton Professionals, (NSBE) (Member 2014-present). Mr. McGhee served as President from (2016-2018). In NSBE, Mr. McGhee has collaborated with young NSBE professionals mentoring/tutoring high school youth in mathematics thru the Academic Achievement Program at Thurgood Marshall High School in 2015-2016. NSBE volunteered with TechFest, Air Force Marathon, and hosted Professional Development Seminars for college engineering students. During Mr. McGhee’s tenure, Dayton NSBE has guided award winning Junior LEGO League students under the guidance and leadership of NSBE colleagues, Larry Jenkins and Adam Carpenter.

In his spare time, Mr. McGhee likes jogging/ training for 10ks to Half marathons. He likes to grill BBQ and watch his favorite football team, The Ohio State Buckeyes. Mr. McGhee also enjoys travelling.