Joseph D Kernan

Updated on Oct 20, 2023

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Years of service 1977 - 2013 Rank Vice Admiral		Name Joseph Kernan

Born February 4, 1955 (age 69) Travis Air Force Base ( 1955-02-04 ) Allegiance United States of America Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit (2) Education United States Naval Academy Unit United States Navy SEALs, SEAL Team Six Commands held United States Fourth Fleet
Service/branch United States Navy

Joseph D. "Joe" Kernan (born February 4, 1955) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral. His last military assignment was as the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), Miami, Florida from May 23, 2011 To September 2013. He was the second-in-command of one of nine unified commands under the Department of Defense. SOUTHCOM conducts military operations and promotes security cooperation throughout the 16,000,000-square-mile (41,000,000 km²) area of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Joseph D. Kernan FileVADM Joseph D Kernanjpg Wikimedia Commons

Admiral 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, U.S. Fourth Fleet and U.S. 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 current assignment in May 23, 2011.

On July 17, 2017, President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Kernan as Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

Education and U.S. Navy service

Kernan, the son of a career Air Force pilot and Air Force nurse, was born at Travis Air Force Base, California on February 4, 1955. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1977, attended Surface Warfare Officer School, and reported to USS Horne (CG-30) based in San Diego, California.

During this tour, he served as an Engineering Officer, completed deployments to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions and was designated a Surface Warfare Officer.

Upon completion of his initial tour with the Surface Warfare community, Kernan applied for transfer to and training in the Naval Special Warfare community for qualification as a SEAL. Kernan reported to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California and subsequently completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training with Class 117 in 1982. Following SEAL Qualification Training (SQT), he was designated as a Naval Special Warfare Officer, entitled to wear the SEAL insignia. He commanded Platoons at Underwater Demolition Team 12, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1, and SEAL Team 5. Additionally while assigned to SEAL Team 5, he served as Detachment Officer-in-Charge of four deployed SEAL platoons and Deputy Commander, Naval Special Warfare Task Force, Middle East Force. He served his executive officer tour at Naval Special Warfare Unit 1 in Naval Station Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines.

Kernan has served as the Naval Special Warfare Officer Detailer and Community Manager, Deputy/Chief Staff Officer, Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Chief of Staff and Deputy, Naval Special Warfare Command and Director, Naval Special Warfare Branch on the Navy Staff.

He commanded SEAL Team 2 from 1994 to 1996 and the Naval Special Warfare Development Group from 1999 to Aug 2003. His joint assignments include Deputy Director and Director of Operations, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Director of Operations, Center for Special Operations, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida.

He assumed duties as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command in June 2007.

On April 24, 2008, Admiral Gary Roughead, the Chief of Naval Operations, announced that the United States Fourth Fleet would be re-established, effective July 1, with responsibility for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the Caribbean Sea, as well as throughout Central and South America, with Admiral Kernan as the fleet commander, as well as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, the naval component of the United States Southern Command. Kernan became the first Navy SEAL to serve as a numbered fleet commander.

Political appointments

On May 19, 2009, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that President Barack Obama had selected Kernan for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. He assumed the assignment in June 2009.

On July 17, 2017, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Kernan to the position of Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

Business activities and board memberships

Kernan currently serves as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for SAP National Security Services. Kernan also serves as the chairman of NS2 Serves, a "veteran training and employment program," as well as on the board of directors for both the National Navy SEAL Museum and The Mission Continues, a nonprofit founded by Missouri governor and former SEAL, Eric Greitens.