1. MASTER SERGEANT JOHN C. McKINNON
RETIREE
Master Sergeant John C. McKinnon is the Space-Based
Infrared System’s (SBIRS) most experienced Senior
Intelligence Situational Analyst (ISA) for Air Force
Reserve Command’s 8th Space Warning Squadron
(8 SWS) at Buckley Air Force Base (AFB) in Aurora,
Colorado. 8 SWS is part of the 310th Operations Group
(OG) and is a Total Force Enterprise Classic Associate
unit to the Regular Air Force’s 2 SWS in the 460th OG.
Sergeant McKinnon hails from Southern California.
He first enlisted in 1982, utilizing the Delayed Entry
Program, and then entered Active Duty military in 1983
through the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego,
California. Then Private First Class (PFC) McKinnon advanced through the six-
month Basic Music Course of the Naval School of Music at Little Creek Naval
Amphibious Base (NAB) in Norfolk, Virginia and upon successful completion, was
assigned as a Marine Trumpeter to the 1st
Marine Division (MarDiv) Band at Camp
Pendleton, California. In 1987, then Lance Corporal McKinnon was subsequently
transferred to the 3rd
Marine Expeditionary Force Band at Camp Foster in Okinawa,
Japan and was a Marine Base Security Guard during Joint Exercise TEAM SPIRIT
’88 in Pohang, South Korea. Although Corporal McKinnon was reassigned to the
1st
MarDiv Band later in 1988 as a Trumpet Section Leader, he was deployed as a
Machine-gun Fire Team Leader in 1st
MarDiv Headquarters (HQ) Forward Security
Platoon to Saudi Arabia for Operation DESERT SHIELD in 1990 and to Kuwait for
Operation DESERT STORM in 1991. Sergeant McKinnon voluntarily separated
from Active Duty Marine Corps service with an Honorable Discharge later in 1991.
After more than eleven years as a civilian, Sergeant McKinnon reenlisted into the
Air Force Reserve in 2003 with 8 SWS. Then, in 2004, he graduated as a Class
Leader with Academic Honors from the Air Force Operations Intelligence School at
Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas. Since then, Sergeant McKinnon has served
as the 8 SWS Intelligence Flight Chief, plus as Acting Senior Intelligence Officer
for the 460th Space Wing in 2010, as Tactician for Weapons & Tactics of the 460th
Operations Support Squadron in 2010/11, as Lead Intelligence Manager for SBIRS
Future Development in 2012/13 and has accumulated more than 11,000 error-free
operational hours as the most Senior ISA for the SBIRS mission during all of the
following military Operations: NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI
FREEDOM, ODYSSEY DAWN, NEW DAWN and UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
Master Sergeant McKinnon is married to the former Jacinda Glover of Littleton,
Colorado. They have three sons; Jason (USN Veteran), Jevon (USMC SSGT), and
Jaydon, plus daughter-in-law; Shannon and twin grandchildren; Lucas and Avery.
1
MASTER SERGEANT JOHN C. McKINNON
RETIREE
EDUCATION:
1984 United States Naval School of Music, Little Creek NAB, Norfolk, Virginia
1987 The Marine NCO and five additional correspondence courses, Marine Corps Institute
2004 Air Force Operations Intelligence School, Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, Texas
2008 Space & Missile Intelligence Formal Training Unit, National Security Space Institute
2010 Vossler NCO Academy (in-residence), Peterson AFB, Colorado
2010 Senior NCO Professional Enhancement Course, Buckley AFB, Colorado
2011 Missile Warning & Defense Advanced Course, Advanced Space Ops School, Colorado
2011 Space Professional Development, Space-200, National Security Space Institute, Colorado
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College
2015 Communication Applications Technology Program, Community College of the Air Force
ASSIGNMENTS:
September 1983 – December 1983, Basic Training, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, California
December 1984 – June 1984, Armed Forces School of Music, Little Creek NAB, Virginia
July 1984 – July 1987, 1st Marine Division Band, MCB Camp Pendleton, California
August 1987 – August 1988, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Band, MCB Camp Foster, Okinawa
August 1988 – August 1990, 1st Marine Division Band, MCB Camp Pendleton, California
August 1990 – April 1991, 1st MarDiv HQ Forward Security Platoon, Saudi Arabia & Kuwait
April 1991 – September 1991, 1st Marine Division Band, MCB Camp Pendleton, California
February 2003 – March 2004, 8th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colorado
March 2004 – August 2004, Air Force Operations Intelligence School, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
August 2004 – August 2015, 8th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colorado
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
2007 Air Force Space Command’s ISR NCO of the Year Award, Reserve Component, Level-II
2008 Air Force Reserve Command’s General Jumper Award; Excellence in Warfighting Integration
2008 8th Space Warning Squadron’s NCO of the Year Award
Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air & Space Campaign Medal with bronze star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with silver oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 'M' Device & Hour Glass
U.S. Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon w/bronze star (USMC Rifle Expert Badge-5th Award)
Kuwait Liberation Medals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Government of Kuwait
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Private First Class September 1983
Lance Corporal June 1984
Corporal December 1987
Sergeant September 1991
Staff Sergeant February 2003
Technical Sergeant July 2008
Master Sergeant March 2011