BRIGADIER GENERAL TARA. D. MCKENNIE
Brigadier General Tara D. McKennie is is the Assistant Adjutant General-Air and Air Component Commander, Joint Force Headquarters, Montgomery, Alabama. In this position, she commands all units of the Alabama Air National Guard, and serves as the key advisor to the Adjutant General of Alabama on all matters relating to the air mission.
Brig Gen McKennie, a Chicago, Illinois native, graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science degree in both Radiologic Science and Health Care Management. She also earned a Masters of Business Administration in 2009 from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.
Brig Gen McKennie enlisted in the Air Force in 1989 as an airman basic, and served six years on active duty. Having earned a commission as a Second Lieutenant through
the Army’s Officer Candidate School in 1999, Brig Gen McKennie was assigned as a Platoon Leader to the 133d Signal Battalion. She transferred to the Air National Guard in 2002 in the Medical Service Corps and has served in several administrative leadership capacities since that time. Brig Gen McKennie transferred to the 187th Fighter Wing, Alabama Air National Guard in December 2015 where she became the commander of the187th Medical Group, located at Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field). Brig Gen
McKennie was directly responsible for training, budgeting, and the deployment readiness of all personnel in the wing, and its geographically separated units.
Brig Gen McKennie has spent her entire professional career in health care operations focusing on optimization theory, implementation of management processes and developing and leading people. She is presently, Vice President of Culture and Leadership Development for a national physician practice, supporting and leading operations for 5000+ employees. She also serves on the Board of Directors, Tampa Crossroads.
EDUCATION
1997 Associate Applied Science of Radiologic Science
1998 Bachelor of Science of Health Care Administration, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, III
2009 Master of Business Administration, Bellarmine University, Louisville, Ky
2015 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
Air Force Long Tour Overseas Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant August 29, 1999
First Lieutenant August 29, 2001
Captain September 27, 2003
Major February 22, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel March 29, 2012
Colonel September 15, 2016
Brigadier General May 2, 2021
(Current as of Feb 2022 Click here to download)