# Mike Minihan

Michael A. "Mike" Minihan (born 1967) is a retired United States Air Force general who last served as the commander of Air Mobility Command from 2021 to 2024.

## Career

Minihan was commissioned in 1989 through Air Force ROTC at Auburn University in Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in economics. He began his service in the Air Force as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules pilot.
From 2013 to 2021, Minihan held multiple key roles in the Pacific. 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.
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.
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. He also oversaw the rapid deployment of assistance to Ukraine, and later to Israel and Gaza.
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." 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.”
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.

## 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.
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." Minihan later clarified via the Washington Post that he did not believe war with China was inevitable.

## Awards and decorations

* US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
* Air Force Basic Manpower and Personnel Badge
* Headquarters Air Force Badge
* Defense Distinguished Service Medal
* Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
* Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
* Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
* Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
* Aerial Achievement Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Commendation Medal
* Air Force Achievement Medal
* Joint Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and two silver oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
* Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Recognition Ribbon
* National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two service stars
* Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
* Kosovo Campaign Medal with two service stars
* Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
* Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* Korea Defense Service Medal
* Armed Forces Service Medal with service star
* Humanitarian Service Medal with service star
* Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
* Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
* Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and three oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
* Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
* Air Force Training Ribbon
* Order of National Security Merit, Cheonsu Medal (Korea)
* NATO Medal for the Balkans (non-article 5)
* General Minihan is also a recipient of the Order of Saint Maurice.

## Effective dates of promotions

| 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 |