Kenneth A. Minihan (31 December 1943 – 1 November 2025) was a United States Air Force lieutenant general who served as the director of the National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency, retiring on 1 May 1999.

Early life and career

Minihan was born in Pampa, Texas, on 31 December 1943. He 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. and as a Managing Director with the Paladin Capital Group. His son, Mike Minihan also became a USAF officer and was, until 9 September 2024, commander of Air Mobility Command at the rank of General.

Kenneth Minihan died on 1 November 2025, at the age of 81.

Education

  • 1966 Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, Florida State University, Tallahassee
  • 1972 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
  • 1979 Distinguished graduate, Master of Arts degree in national security affairs, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California
  • 1979 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
  • 1984 Distinguished graduate, Air War College, 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 Base, 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 Base, South Vietnam
  • November 1970 – September 1974, chief, current intelligence and presentations branch, Headquarters U.S. Southern Command, Howard Air Force Base, 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 Base, 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 – 16 February 1996, director, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
  • 16 February 1996 – April 1999, director, National Security Agency and Central Security Service, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland

Major awards and decorations

  • 60px  Defense Distinguished Service Medal