Joseph Kernan | |
---|---|
5th Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence | |
In office December 1, 2017 – November 10, 2020 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Marcel Lettre |
Succeeded by | Ezra Cohen (Acting) |
Deputy Commander of United States Southern Command | |
In office May 2011 – September 2013 | |
President | Barack Obama |
Commander | Douglas M. Fraser John F. Kelly |
Personal details | |
Born | Joseph Deveraux Kernan February 4, 1955 Travis Air Force Base, California, U.S. |
Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1977–2013 |
Rank | Vice Admiral |
Commands | United States Fourth Fleet United States Naval Forces Southern Command Naval Special Warfare Command Naval Special Warfare Development Group SEAL Team 2 |
Awards | Defense 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]