Mike Minihan
Michael A. "Mike" Minihan (born 1967) is a general in the United States Air Force who has served as the commander of Air Mobility Command since October 5, 2021.[1][2]
Mike Minihan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1967 (age 55–56) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1989–present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 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) |
Career
Minihan was commissioned in 1990 through Air Force ROTC at Auburn University in Alabama, where he had earned a Bachelor of Science in economics the year prior.[3] He began his service in the Air Force as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules pilot.[4]
From 2013 onwards, 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.[3]
In July 2021, he was nominated and confirmed for promotion to general and assignment as the commander of Air Mobility Command, set to succeed Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, who has been nominated to head United States Transportation Command.[5][6]
In September 2022, Minihan said at a military conference that the Air Force was responsible for the biggest "pile of our nation's enemy dead" among the branches of the American military and that "[w]hen you can kill your enemy, every part of your life is better. Your food tastes better. Your marriage is stronger."[4]
In January 2023, Minihan issued a memo 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 suggested that subordinates should prepare for war with more aggressive training and in respect to their personal affairs. Minihan's memo also asked airmen with weapons qualifications to empty clips into shooting targets while aiming for the head, saying that "unrepentant lethality matters most".[4] Minihan's memo stated that all commanders within the Air Mobility Command must report acknowledgement of the memo in preparation for "the China fight".[7] 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".[7] 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."[8]
Awards and decorations
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US Air Force Command Pilot Badge |
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Air Force Basic Manpower and Personnel Badge |
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Headquarters Air Force Badge |
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- General Minihan is also a recipient of the Order of Saint Maurice.
Effective dates of promotions[3]
| Rank | Date |
|---|---|
 Second Lieutenant | November 12, 1989 |
 First Lieutenant | November 12, 1991 |
 Captain | November 12, 1993 |
 Major | March 1, 2001 |
 Lieutenant Colonel | April 1, 2004 |
 Colonel | September 1, 2007 |
 Brigadier General | March 2, 2015 |
 Major General | July 3, 2018 |
 Lieutenant General | September 27, 2019 |
 General | October 5, 2021 |
References
- "Webcast: AMC Change of Command 2021". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- "GENERAL MIKE MINIHAN". Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- "Lieutenant General Mike Minihan (USAF)". U.S. Air Force. July 30, 2021. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - 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.
- "PN809 — Lt. Gen. Michael A. Minihan — Air Force". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
- McCullouch, Amy (2021-07-14). "Biden Nominates First Commander for Space Systems Command, New Boss at AMC". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
- Hadley, Greg (2023-01-30). "Read for Yourself: The Full Memo from AMC Gen. Mike Minihan". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
- "U.S. general predicts war with China in 2025, tells officers to get ready". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-02-02.