Joint Capability Directorate
Major General Kevin J. Kennedy
United States Air Force

Air Force Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Kennedy, as the director for capability development (J8), serves as lead joint integrator for all of DoD's uniformed components and oversees the Joint Command and Control Capability Portfolio Management program.

J8 works with the combatant commanders, Joint Staff, services, and other federal departments and agencies to combine all of the military's capabilities into a single focused effort, connecting current capabilities to future concepts.

USJFCOM J8 is supported by two subordinate commands, Joint Systems Integration Center (JSIC) and Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT). The Joint Unmanned Aerial Systems Center of Excellence (JUAS COE) maintains an interface with USJFCOM through J8.

Kennedy entered military service after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1978.  A distinguished graduate of pilot training, the command pilot has 3,600 hours, including 145 hours in combat, flying the B-2, B-52, T-37 and T-38.

He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels including the 40th Air Expeditionary Wing.  He gained extensive interagency expertise while serving as the deputy, then acting chief of staff for intelligence at the Headquarters Air Force level and while commanding the Air Force Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) Center.

Kennedy garnered extensive international experience while augmenting U.S. Air Forces Europe during Operation Allied Force, then while serving as the Afghanistan air and space component coordination element to the NATO sponsored Commander of the International Security Assistance Force. 

His joint experience also includes two tours at U.S. Strategic Command.  His C2 experience includes command of the Air Force C2ISR Center which was reformed to the Global Cyberspace Integration Center during his tenure.

In addition to his bachelor's degree in management, the general holds a master's degree in human resources from Central Michigan University and a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. He is also a distinguished graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff at the Naval War College, Newport, R.I., a National Security Fellowship from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., and a Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security, also at Harvard.

Kennedy has earned awards including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters. He also wears the Air Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.