In March, 2019, soon after General McDew's retirement, United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao named him as Co-Chair of the Special Committee to Review the Federal Aviation Administration's Aircraft Certification Process.

According to a letter from Secretary Chao, the Special Committee is "specifically tasked to review the 737 MAX 800 certification process from 2012 to 2017.

[3] Upon graduation from Virginia Military Institute in 1982 as the first African American Regimental Commander[4][circular reference] with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, McDew was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and, following flight training, began his operational flying career at Loring Air Force Base, Maine.

McDew served as vice director for Strategic Plans and Policy for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He deployed in support of ongoing operations in Central and Southwest Asia as an air expeditionary group commander and later as the director of mobility forces.