An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .gov**
A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

National Security Agency/Central Security Service

Search
Search

Search

-  About    -  Leadership             
  -  Mission & Combat Support             
  -  Cybersecurity             
  -  Signals Intelligence             
  -  Central Security Service             
  -  Locations             
  -  Research             
  -  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility             
  -  Cybersecurity Collaboration Center      -  Collaborative Partnerships             
    -  Enduring Security Framework             
    -  DIB Cybersecurity Services             
    -  Standards and Certifications             
    -  Artificial Intelligence Security Center 
-  Press Room    -  Press Releases & Statements             
  -  News & Highlights             
  -  Declassification & Transparency Initiatives             
  -  Cybersecurity Advisories & Guidance             
  -  Telework and Mobile Security Guidance             
  -  DoD Microelectronics Guidance             
  -  Research Publications 
-  Careers    -  Unique Pathways             
  -  Innovation 
-  History    -  National Cryptologic Museum             
  -  Cryptologic History             
  -  National Cryptologic Memorial 

HomeHistoryCryptologic HistoryHistorical FiguresHistorical Figures View

# NSA Historical Figures

                Download            

# Lt. Gen. Kenneth A. Minihan, USAF

##                 2019 Hall of Honor Inductee            

Lt Gen Kenneth A. Minihan, USAF, Director, National Security Agency / Chief, Central Security Service from 1996 to 1999, conceived of and drove two of NSA’s most momentous transformations. In the 1990s, NSA/CSS abandoned its WWII blueprint. Under his slogan “One team, One mission,” real-time collaboration developed between missions that had previously interacted through episodic exchanges, seldom in real-time operations. 

In the second transformation, Minihan changed external perceptions about 21st century cryptology. His direction during the 1997 Eligible Receiver exercise shocked DoD into preparing for an era in which cyberspace would become a domain in its own right.  NSA analysts hacked into DoD computer networks, using only commercially available soft­ware. It was the first high-level exercise preparing for a cyber-attack, and the outcome was alarming. 

Further, he introduced NSA to an outside world needing to understand its purpose and outcomes. He doubled the size of the National Cryptologic Museum, and conceived of National Vigilance Park.   

General Minihan’s recognition that NSA/CSS success depends on public understanding was 15 years ahead of its time. Together, these transformations set the stage for NSA/CSS success in an age of digital revolution, where friends and foes operate side-by-side in the global commons and at network speed. 

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT                

2019hall of honorhistorical figureDirectorBiography