Leslie F. Kenne

Infobox Military Person
name= Leslie F. KenneUnited States Air Force
born=
died=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=Leslie F. Kenne
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch= air force|United States
serviceyears=1971–2003
rank= Lieutenant General
commands=Electronic Systems Center
unit= U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
battles=
awards= Air Force Distinguished Service Medal(2) Defense Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal] (3)
laterwork=Harris Corporation Board of Directors

Leslie F. Kenne was the first woman to achieve the rank of Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force. [ [http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/firsts2.html Military Women "Firsts" Contributed by Site Visitors ] ] United States Army Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, United States Navy Vice Admiral Patricia Tracey and Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Carol A. Mutter held equal ranks in other branches of the military.

Military career

Kenne was Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighting Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. She was responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff for forming and executing policy and strategy to integrate command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to enable more effective employment of air and space power in support of national objectives. General Kenne also provided guidance and direction to four field operating agencies: the Air Force Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center; the Air Force Communications Agency; the Air Force Frequency Management Agency; and the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation.

Kenne entered the Air Force in 1971 as a distinguished graduate of Auburn University's ROTC program. She has served as a flight line maintenance officer in operations, and attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in 1974. After school, she served as a test and evaluation project manager, and in test and evaluation supervisory positions.

Kenne has served in two other Pentagon staff positions, first as a division chief, and during a second tour, as a deputy director in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. She has directed three major programs -- the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared System for Night, the F-16 and the Joint Strike Fighter. She also has served as Vice Commander of Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the Sacramento Air Logistics Center, McClellan Air Force Base, Calif. Prior to assuming her current position, Kenne commanded the Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.(Taken from U.S. Air Force Biography) [ [http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6034 Biographies : Lieutenant General Leslie F. Kenne ] ]

Dates of Rank

Second Lieutenant Apr 1, 1971 First Lieutenant Apr 1, 1973 Captain Apr 1, 1975 Major Oct 24, 1980 Lieutenant Colonel Mar 1, 1985 Colonel Oct 1, 1989 Brigadier General Oct 1, 1994 Major General Mar 20, 1998 Lieutenant General Jul 1, 1999

References