Michael Minihan

USAF General Michael A. "Mike" Minihan (born 1967) 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.

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

Awards and decorations

General Minihan is also a recipient of the Order of Saint Maurice.

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. + Rank Date Second LieutenantNovember 12, 1989 First LieutenantNovember 12, 1991 CaptainNovember 12, 1993 MajorMarch 1, 2001 Lieutenant ColonelApril 1, 2004 ColonelSeptember 1, 2007 Brigadier GeneralMarch 2, 2015 Major GeneralJuly 3, 2018 Lieutenant GeneralSeptember 27, 2019 GeneralOctober 5, 2021