MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT I. KINNEY
Maj Gen Robert Kinney is the Military and Mobilization Assistant to the Director Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). He is the Director’s principal advisor on all military force issues to include Active and Reserve Component forces, assisting with integrating intelligence activities supporting DIA. He is the focal point and coordinator of military support with national-level organizations, the Services, Unified Commands, and Combat Support Agencies.
Maj Gen Kinney enlisted in the Air Force in 1990 and commissioned as an officer in November 1995 through the Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tennessee. He is a career intelligence officer having served at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, subordinate unified command, major command, numbered air force, and wing levels. He has deployed in support of operations in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, and the homeland having operated extensively in Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), tactical, and mobility flying operations. Maj Gen Kinney was instrumental in the stand-up of over 20 Air National Guard ISR units and has held several principal roles related to the integration of data and artificial intelligence with warfighting. Prior to his current assignment, Maj Gen Kinney was the Special Assistant to the Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau.
EDUCATION
1991 Aerospace Propulsion Specialist School, Chanute Air Force Base, Ill.
1992 Associate of Science, Criminal Justice, University College, Bangor, Maine
1994 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of Maine, Orono
1995 Diploma, Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tenn.
1995 Diploma, Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Waterville, Maine
1996 Intelligence Officer Training School, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2000 Master of Business Administration, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.
2001 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Intermediate Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Cyber Operations Fundamentals Course, 229th Information Operations Squadron, South Burlington, Vt., by correspondence
2015 Commanders Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
2017 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2018 Leadership in Homeland Security, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2021 Certificate, Effective Decision Making, Wharton School of Executive Education, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
2022 Senior Leader Orientation Course, JB Andrews, Md.
2022 National Security Studies, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2022 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2024 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1990 - March 1994, Aerospace Propulsion Specialist, 101st Air Refueling Wing, Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine
2. March 1994 - October 1995, Intelligence Specialist, 101st Air Refueling Wing, Bangor ANGB, Maine
3. October 1995 - November 1995, Student, Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
4. January 1996 - August 1996, Student, 315th Training Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
5. August 1996 - August 1997, Intelligence Officer, 101st Air Refueling Wing, Bangor ANGB, Maine
6. August 1997 - March 2000, Chief of Intelligence, 184th Bomb Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.
7. March 2000 - October 2001, Chief, Counterdrug Analysis Ops, First Air Force, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
8. October 2001 - October 2002, Air and Marine Interdiction Coordination Center Counterdrug Intelligence Liaison, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
9. October 2002 - August 2005, Intelligence Officer, U.S. Department of Justice, Boston, Mass.
10. December 2002 - August 2005, Intelligence Officer, 253rd Combat Communications Group, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
11. August 2005 - August 2008, Chief, ISR Forces Branch, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Va.
12. August 2008 - January 2012, Director of Operations, 102nd Operations Support Squadron, Otis ANGB, Mass. (October 2008–July 2009, Distributed Ground Station (DGS) Mission Operations Commander, 13th Intelligence Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.; July 2009–October 2009, DGS Liaison Officer, 609th Air Operations Center, Southwest Asia)
13. January 2012 - August 2013, Chief, ISR Plans & Integration Branch, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
14. August 2013 - July 2016, Commander, 188th ISR Group, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
15. July 2016 - June 2017, Resident Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
16. June 2017 - September 2017, Vice Commander, 188th Wing, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
17. September 2017 - August 2019, Commander, 188th Wing, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
18. August 2019 - March 2020, Chief, Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) National Mission Initiative, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Arlington, Va.
19. April 2020 - June 2021, Missions Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Arlington, Va.
20. June 2021 - June 2024, Wartime Director of Intelligence, United States Forces Korea, Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea
21. June 2024 - September 2024, Special Assistant to the Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
22. October 2024 - Present, Military and Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2019 - March 2020, Chief, HADR National Mission Initiative, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
2. April 2020 - June 2021, Missions Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
3. June 2021 - June 2024, Wartime Director of Intelligence, United States Forces Korea, Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, as a brigadier general
4. June 2024 - September 2024, Special Assistant to the Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a major general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1995 Valedictorian, 78th Municipal County Basic Police School, Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Waterville, Maine
1995 Distinguished Graduate, Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tenn.
2008 Action Officer of the Year, National Guard Bureau Intelligence Directorate, Arlington, Va.
2017 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Lifetime Member, Air Force Association
Lifetime Member, National Guard Association of the United States
Lifetime Member, Army War College Foundation
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov. 16, 1995
First Lieutenant Nov. 16, 1997
Captain Nov. 16, 1999
Major Jan. 11, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 11, 2011
Colonel Jan. 29, 2015
Brigadier General June 21, 2021
Major General July 31, 2024
(Current as of January 2025)
