Mike Minihan

Last updated
Mike Minihan
Minihan AMC 2021.jpg
Official portrait, 2021
Born1967 (age 5758)
AllegianceUnited States
Branch United States Air Force
Years of service1989–2024
Rank General
Commands Air Mobility Command
89th Airlift Wing
19th Airlift Wing
Battles / wars Iraq War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (3)

USAF General Michael A. "Mike" Minihan (born 1967) served as the commander of Air Mobility Command from 2021 to 2024. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Minihan was commissioned in 1989 through Air Force ROTC at Auburn University in Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in economics. [3] He began his service in the Air Force as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules pilot. [4]

From 2013 to 2021, Minihan held multiple key roles in the Pacific. [4] He served as the deputy commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command from September 2019 to August 2021. He previously served as its chief of staff from January 2019 to September 2019.

On July 26, 2018, Minihan, while serving as the chief of staff at United Nations Command, led a delegation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to recover the remains of service members killed during the Korean War. The mission came after negotiations between Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, and President Donald J. Trump. [5]

In July 2021, he was nominated and confirmed for promotion to general and assignment as the commander of Air Mobility Command, succeeding Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, who has been nominated to head United States Transportation Command. [6] [7]

During his time commanding Air Mobility Command, Minihan re-envisioned Exercise Mobility Guardian in 2023, transitioning the exercise from a service-specific test of air mobility and logistics training executed over the continental United States to a joint and combined large-scale exercise in the Pacific. [8] He also oversaw the rapid deployment of assistance to Ukraine, and later to Israel and Gaza. [9]

On Jan 28, 2022, Minihan attracted attention online when he posted on Twitter a screen shot of his personal calendar revealing a mental health appointment with the text, "Warrior Heart. No Stigma." [10] Minihan later stated to Air and Space Forces Magazine of the post, “I’m only holding myself accountable to the same standards I expect from the amazing airmen and families that surround me. Mental health is simply health. There can be no stigma in my headquarters, command, or family. Warrior Heart is leadership. Warrior Heart is fine tuning mind, body, and craft to ensure individual and team readiness. It’s a wingman and warfighting imperative necessary to win.” [11]

On May 2, 2024, the enlisted force of Air Mobility Command bestowed their most prestigious honor—the Order of the Sword—to Minihan. AMC command chief, CMSgt Jamie Newman stated during the presentation, “Great leaders walk in front of you, beside you, and behind you,” said Newman. “When I first heard that, the first person I thought of was General Minihan,” before recounting several stories he personally experienced and witnessed. The common theme of the stories included connectedness and genuine care for anyone who crosses his path regardless of the rank. Minihan's father, Lt Gen Kenneth Minihan also received the honor in 1994. [12]

Controversies

In January 2023, a memo written by Minihan to his subordinate commanders leaked on social media predicting that China would invade Taiwan in 2025 using the 2024 presidential elections in Taiwan and the United States as an excuse and a distraction respectively. He also directed his command to prepare with more aggressive training and in respect to their personal affairs. [4]

His Commander's Intent stated, "Go faster. Drive readiness, integration, and agility for ourselves and the Joint Force to deter, and if required, defeat China. This is the first of 8 monthly directives from me. You need to know I alone own the pen on these orders. My expectations are high, and these orders are not up for negotiation. Follow them. I will be tough, fair, and loving in my approach to secure victory." An official at the United States Department of Defense later told NBC News that Minihan's memo was "not representative of the department's view on China." [13] Minihan later clarified via the Washington Post that he did not believe war with China was inevitable. [14]

Awards and decorations

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
United States Air Force Manpower & Personnel Badge.svg Air Force Basic Manpower and Personnel Badge
Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png Headquarters Air Force Badge
Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Medal ribbon.svg
Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Silver oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Aerial Achievement Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement ribbon.svg Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Meritorious Unit ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg Silver oakleaf-3d.svg Silver oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and two silver oak leaf clusters
Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Recognition Ribbon.svg Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
KosovoRib.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Kosovo Campaign Medal with two service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Iraq Campaign ribbon.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service ribbon.svg Korea Defense Service Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Service Medal with service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg
Humanitarian Service Medal with service star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal ribbon.svg Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
AF OS Short Tour Ribbon.svg
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
AF OS Tour Ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame.png Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and three oak leaf clusters
Longevity Service Award USAF.svg Silver oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon
Cheon-Su Security Medal Ribbon.png Order of National Security Merit, Cheonsu Medal (Korea)
NATO Medal non-article-5 Balkans ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal for the Balkans (non-article 5)

Effective dates of promotions

Minihan is administered the reaffirmation oath by General Charles Q. Brown Jr., chief of staff of the Air Force after his promotion to general, on October 4, 2021. Gen Mike Minihan promotion ceremony 211005-F-XS544-1087.jpg
Minihan is administered the reaffirmation oath by General Charles Q. Brown Jr., chief of staff of the Air Force after his promotion to general, on October 4, 2021.
Rank [3] Date
US Air Force O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg Second Lieutenant November 12, 1989
US Air Force O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg First Lieutenant November 12, 1991
US Air Force O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg Captain November 12, 1993
US Air Force O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major March 1, 2001
US Air Force O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2004
US Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Colonel September 1, 2007
US Air Force O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg Brigadier General March 2, 2015
US Air Force O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major General July 3, 2018
US Air Force O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant General September 27, 2019
US Air Force O10 shoulderboard rotated.svg General October 5, 2021

References

  1. "Webcast: AMC Change of Command 2021". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  2. "GENERAL MIKE MINIHAN". Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Lieutenant General Mike Minihan (USAF)". U.S. Air Force. July 30, 2021. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. 1 2 3 Lamothe, Dan (January 27, 2023). "U.S. general warns troops that war with China is possible in two years". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  5. "The Korean War veterans who never came home". The Washington Post. 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  6. "PN809 — Lt. Gen. Michael A. Minihan — Air Force". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  7. McCullouch, Amy (2021-07-14). "Biden Nominates First Commander for Space Systems Command, New Boss at AMC". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  8. "Air Force's largest-ever mobility exercise to prove prowess in Pacific". airforcetimes.com. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  9. "AFCENT deploys AMC C-17s to enhance humanitarian airdrops in Gaza". Air and Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  10. "Gen. Mike Minihan on Twitter: "Warrior heart. No stigma.… "". Archived from the original on 2022-06-19. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  11. "Air Force general shares mental health appointment: 'No stigma'". taskandpurpose.com. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  12. "AMC enlisted force honors Minihan with Order of the Sword". amc.af.mil. 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  13. "U.S. general predicts war with China in 2025, tells officers to get ready". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  14. "U.S. General Michael Minihan warns war with China possible in 2025". The Washington Post. 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the 19th Airlift Wing
2010–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the 89th Airlift Wing
2012–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Director for Operations of the United States Indo-Pacific Command
2015–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Staff of the United States Forces Korea
2017–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Staff of the United States Indo-Pacific Command
2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command
2019–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Air Mobility Command
2021–2024
Succeeded by