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 also served as its chief of staff.
Minihan 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…
A little more than a month ago, General Mike Minihan, Air Mobility Commander, sent a memo to his service members urging them to prepare for a war with China and cautioning that it could happen as soon as 2025.
With those preparations, Air Mobility Command has obscured the majority of identifying information painted on refueling and cargo planes, citing national security concerns. It is an unusual move that has caused some apprehension.
“Understandably, we have concerns about the operational security impacts to these missions in the modern era of on-demand, real-time information,” a spokesman for the Command said. “Subdued paint schemes that limit identifiable information is one way we are taking a hard look at how we operate to ensure our ability to continue to deliver for America and our allies and partners around the world.”
“Because of operational security concerns, we cannot provide specifics, though our aircraft will maintain markings as required by law,” he said.