He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1969.

He was an attorney in the Legal and Finance Department of the Florsheim Shoe Company from 1969 to 1971.

He was a Chief Assistant United States Attorney of District of Arizona from 1981 to 1985.

[1] McNamee was nominated by President George H. W. Bush on February 20, 1990, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Arizona vacated by Judge Charles Leach Hardy.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 11, 1990, and received his commission on June 4, 1990.