President McMullen leads the Earth Coalition in 2082. Decades earlier, as a young counselor in 2057, he witnessed the Crogs' treacherous surprise attack on Earth and was among the few humans present when the Avatar intervened, announcing a truce and extending Earth's invitation to the Great Race of Ōban. By 2072, as Governor, he attended the first friendly race between Earth and neighboring alien civilizations, observing Maya Wei's fatal racing accident.

A decade later, as President, he personally recruited Don Wei to assemble and lead Earth's team for the Great Race of Ōban. McMullen stressed the critical importance of winning the Ultimate Prize for Earth's safety, initially withholding the full stakes: Earth's imminent destruction by the Crogs if defeated. He maintained periodic communication with Don Wei, consistently urging victory above all else.

As the Earth Team reached the Ōban finals and Crog invasion preparations intensified, McMullen's communications grew increasingly urgent. He pressed Don Wei to win regardless of personal risks to team members, including Don Wei's daughter Molly, prioritizing planetary survival over individual safety. His leadership decisions reflect a pragmatic approach forged through decades of political and military crises. He focuses on leveraging the Great Race as a strategic deterrent against renewed Crog aggression, rooted in his firsthand experience with interstellar conflict and diplomacy.