General Mike Minihan
Commander, USAF Air Mobility Command
Michael A. Miniham was born in 1967. He earned an undergraduate degree from Auburn University where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC. He has achieved other educational recognition through courses offered by the Air Force, including an M.B.A. from Touro University in Vallejo, California. He began his military career as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules pilot.
Minihan has held multiple key roles in the Pacific, including serving as the deputy commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. He was confirmed as commander of the Air Mobility Command out of Scott Air Force Base in Illinois in July 2021.
He is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flight hours.
In the News…
General Mike Minihan, head of the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command, sent a memo to his officers saying he wanted personnel in his command to be ready for war with China within the next two years. He stated, “My gut tells me we will fight in 2025. I hope I am wrong.”
He said that because of tensions with China and because both Taiwan and the United States will have presidential elections in 2024, the U.S. will be sufficiently “distracted,” giving China the opportunity to move on Taiwan. He said an agile Joint Force Maneuver Team needs to be “ready to fight and win inside the first island chain.”
He directed all personnel in his command to prepare for “unrepentant lethality.” He also ordered updated records and information on emergency contacts for all personnel.
The Air Mobility Command is responsible for transport and refueling and has nearly 50,000 service members and close to 500 planes.
