Joseph D. Kernan

Joseph Kernan
5th Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
In office
December 1, 2017 – November 10, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byMarcel Lettre
Succeeded byEzra Cohen (Acting)
Deputy Commander of United States Southern Command
In office
May 2011 – September 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
CommanderDouglas M. Fraser
John F. Kelly
Personal details
Born
Joseph Deveraux Kernan

(1955-02-04) February 4, 1955 (age 69)
Travis Air Force Base, California, U.S.
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1977–2013
RankVice Admiral
CommandsUnited States Fourth Fleet
United States Naval Forces Southern Command
Naval Special Warfare Command
Naval Special Warfare Development Group
SEAL Team 2
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star (3)

Joseph Devereux Kernan[1] (born February 4, 1955) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral and the former under secretary of defense for intelligence. His last military assignment was serving as the military deputy commander of the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), Miami, Florida, from May 23, 2011, to September 2013.[2] He was the second-in-command of one of nine unified commands under the Department of Defense.

Kernan formerly served as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense from August 2009 to May 2011. Prior to that, he served as Commander, United States Fourth Fleet and United States Naval Forces Southern Command from July 1, 2008, to June 12, 2009, and as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command from June 2007 to June 30, 2008. He assumed his final assignment on May 23, 2011.

Kernan was nominated as the fifth USD(I) on July 17, 2017, was confirmed by the Senate on November 17, 2017, and served until November 10, 2020, when Ezra Cohen replaced him as acting Undersecretary for Intelligence.[3][4][5]

  1. ^ "PN307 — Navy". U.S. Congress. May 15, 1991. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Kernan becomes military deputy commander of SOUTHCOM; Keen heads to Pakistan". Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2011-06-15. Kernan becomes military deputy commander of SOUTHCOM; Keen heads to Pakistan – U.S. Southern Command News Archives – May 23, 2011
  3. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". The White House. July 17, 2017. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  4. ^ "PN781 — Joseph Kernan — Department of Defense". U.S. Congress. November 16, 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  5. ^ Baldor, Lolita C. (November 12, 2020). "U.S. military wary that shakeup could upend its apolitical nature". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Retrieved November 12, 2020.