after the revolution took place in july 1952, mehanna was appointed minister of transport in the first post-revolutionary government, which was headed by ali maher. he was one of the few members of the free officers committee whose name was actually known, the nine-person committee being shrouded in secrecy and most of its members keeping their names almost a military secret. mehanna acted as an intermediary between the free officers committee and the cabinet, since he was a member of both.