Kenneth Minihan
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Kenneth A. Minihan (born December 31, 1943) is a former director of the National Security Agency
and the Defense Intelligence Agency
(retired 1 May 1999).
Minihan entered the United States Air Force
in 1966 as a distinguished graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Florida State University
, where he was also a member of Phi Kappa Psi
. He served as senior intelligence officer for the Air Force and in other senior staff officer positions in the Pentagon
; Headquarters Tactical Air Command
, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
.; Electronic Security Command, Kelly Air Force Base
, Texas
; the Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
; and the National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade
, Maryland
. He has commanded squadrons, groups and a major Air Command, both in the United States and overseas. He has been the assistant chief of staff, intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and most recently, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
After retiring from the Air Force, Minihan served as president of the Security Affairs Support Association from 1999 until 2002. He currently serves as a Managing Director in the Paladin Capital Group.
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
and the Defense Intelligence Agency
Defense Intelligence Agency
The Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
(retired 1 May 1999).
Minihan entered the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
in 1966 as a distinguished graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, where he was also a member of Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
. He served as senior intelligence officer for the Air Force and in other senior staff officer positions in the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
; Headquarters Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.; Electronic Security Command, Kelly Air Force Base
Kelly Air Force Base
Kelly Field Annex and is a former United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas. In 2001, the runway and land west of the runway became "Kelly Field Annex" and control of it was transferred to the adjacent Lackland Air Force Base, part of Joint Base San Antonio...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
; the Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
; and the National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade
Fort George G. Meade
Fort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation that includes the Defense Information School, the United States Army Field Band, and the headquarters of United States Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and the Defense Courier Service...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He has commanded squadrons, groups and a major Air Command, both in the United States and overseas. He has been the assistant chief of staff, intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and most recently, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
After retiring from the Air Force, Minihan served as president of the Security Affairs Support Association from 1999 until 2002. He currently serves as a Managing Director in the Paladin Capital Group.
Education
- 1966 Bachelor of arts degree in political science, Florida State University, Tallahassee
- 1972 Squadron Officer SchoolSquadron Officer SchoolSquadron Officer School , is a five-week long Professional Military Education course for U.S. Air Force Captains. It fulfills the U.S. Air Force's requirement for primary developmental education . SOS is based at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and the in-residence version of the course is taught there...
, Maxwell Air Force BaseMaxwell Air Force BaseMaxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Alabama - 1979 Distinguished graduate, master of arts degree in national security affairs, Naval Postgraduate SchoolNaval Postgraduate SchoolThe Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
, Monterey, California - 1979 Air Command and Staff CollegeAir Command and Staff CollegeThe Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...
, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama - 1984 Distinguished graduate, Air War CollegeAir War CollegeThe Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama - 1993 Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security, Harvard University, Massachusetts
Assignments
- September 1962 - June 1966, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program, Florida State University, Tallahassee
- June 1966 - November 1966, student, Armed Forces Intelligence Center, Lowry Air Force BaseLowry Air Force BaseLowry Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in the cities of Aurora and Denver, Colorado. Its primary mission throughout its existence was Air Force technical training and was heavily involved with the training of United States Army Air Forces bomber crews during World...
, Colorado - November 1966 - October 1969, intelligence plans officer, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
- October 1969 - November 1970, target intelligence officer and commander's briefer, Headquarters 7th Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air BaseTan Son Nhut Air BaseTan Son Nhut Air Base was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility. It is located near the city of Saigon in southern Vietnam. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War , stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there...
, South Vietnam - November 1970 - September 1974, chief, current intelligence and presentations branch, Headquarters U.S. Southern Command, Howard Air Force BaseHoward Air Force BaseHoward Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Panama. It was closed on 1 November 1999 as a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties which specified that United States military facilities in the former Panama Canal Zone be closed and the facilities be turned over to the...
, Panama - September 1974 - July 1978, program element monitor, assistant executive; assistant chief of staff, intelligence; and special assistant for external affairs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- July 1978 - December 1979, student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California
- January 1980 - September 1981, legislative liaison officer, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
- September 1981 - December 1982, chief, Office of Support to Military Operations and Plans, National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
- December 1982 - July 1983, commander, 6941st Electronic Security Squadron, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
- July 1983 - May 1984, student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
- May 1984 - July 1985, commander, 12th Tactical Intelligence Squadron, Bergstrom Air Force BaseBergstrom Air Force BaseBergstrom Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located seven miles southeast of downtown Austin, Texas. It was activated during World War II as a troop carrier training airfield, and was a front-line Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War...
, Texas - July 1985 - July 1987, commander, 6917th Electronic Security Group, San Vito dei Normanni Air Station, Italy
- July 1987 - June 1989, deputy chief of staff, plans, Headquarters Electronic Security Command, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas
- June 1989 - July 1991, deputy chief of staff, intelligence, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
- July 1991 - June 1993, director of plans and requirements, assistant chief of staff, intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- June 1993 - October 1993, commander, Air Force Intelligence Command and director, Joint Electronic Warfare Center, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas
- October 1993 - October 1994, commander, Air Intelligence Agency and director, Joint Command and Control Warfare Center, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas
- October 1994 - September 1995, assistant chief of staff, intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- September 1995 - February 1996, director, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
- February 1996 - April 1999, director, National Security Agency and Central Security Service, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
Major awards and decorations
Defense Distinguished Service MedalDefense Distinguished Service MedalThe Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two oak leaf clusterOak leaf clusterAn oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
s
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
Defense Meritorious Service MedalDefense Meritorious Service MedalThe Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
with service star
Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Effective dates of Promotion
- Second Lieutenant April 21, 1966
- First Lieutenant December 30, 1967
- Captain June 30, 1969
- Major February 1, 1978
- Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 1981
- Colonel November 1, 1985
- Brigadier General May 1, 1991
- Major General June 1, 1993
- Lieutenant General September 1, 1995