Kenneth Minihan


Kenneth A. Minihan 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. 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 United States Air Force, Washington, D.C., and director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Personal life and death

After retiring from the United States Air Force, Minihan served as the president of the Security Affairs Support Association from 1999 until 2002 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