Michael Wynne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Wynne
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| 21st United States Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office November 4, 2005 – June 5, 2008 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Pete Geren (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Michael B. Donley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 4, 1944 Clearwater, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) Air University (MS) University of Colorado Colorado Springs (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1966–1973 |
| Rank |  Captain |
Michael Walter Wynne (born September 4, 1944) is an American leader in politics and business. He served as the 21st United States Secretary of the Air Force. This important role meant he was in charge of the entire U.S. Air Force. He left his position in June 2008 after some concerns were raised about how nuclear materials were handled.
Michael B. Donley was chosen by President George W. Bush to take over Wynne's role.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Michael Wynne was born in Clearwater, Florida. He grew up in Melbourne, Florida.
His younger brother, Patrick Edward Wynne, was a pilot. He went missing during the Vietnam War in 1966. His remains were returned to the U.S. in 1977.
Military and Business Career
Wynne graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1966. He then served in the Air Force for seven years. He became a captain and taught astronautics at the United States Air Force Academy.
After his military service, Wynne worked in the business world. He spent many years at General Dynamics, a large company that makes things like airplanes and tanks. He also worked for Lockheed Martin, another big aerospace company.
Before joining the government, Wynne helped new technology companies. He guided them through their early stages of growth.
Government Service
In 2001, Michael Wynne joined the George W. Bush administration. He became a key leader in the Department of Defense. He helped manage how the military bought new equipment and technology.
As Secretary of the Air Force, he had a huge responsibility. He was in charge of organizing, training, and equipping nearly 370,000 active-duty Air Force members. He also looked after 180,000 members of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. Plus, he managed 160,000 civilians who worked for the Air Force.
Supporting Clean Energy
Wynne strongly supported renewable energy. He wanted the Air Force to lead the way in using clean energy sources. He believed that relying on imported oil was risky for the nation. He also thought that using fossil fuels caused pollution.
He wrote that using renewable energy was an important part of the Air Force's plan. The U.S. Air Force is one of the biggest users of electricity from renewable sources.
Non-Lethal Weapons
Wynne also talked about testing non-lethal weapons. These are weapons that are designed to stop someone without causing death. He suggested testing them in the U.S. before using them in war. He felt that if they weren't safe enough for citizens, they shouldn't be used in battle.
Leaving the Air Force Role
On June 5, 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced a change. He said Michael Wynne was stepping down as Secretary of the Air Force. This decision came after a review of how the Air Force managed its nuclear mission.
There were two main incidents that led to this. In one case, nuclear parts were accidentally sent to Taiwan. In another, a B-52 bomber flew across the country with nuclear-armed missiles that were not supposed to be on board. Wynne stated that the report on these events was influenced by the different backgrounds of the people who wrote it.
Later Service
In 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Wynne to a board for the United States Air Force Academy. In 2021, President Joe Biden asked him to resign from this position.
Education
- 1966: He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. This was from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
- 1970: He received a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering. This was from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
- 1975: He earned a Master of Business Administration degree. This was from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Images for kids
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Michael W. Wynne takes the oath of office as the 21st Secretary of the Air Force.
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Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Air Force Chief of Staff General T. Michael Moseley at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado May 30, 2007.
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Wynne during a press conference in The Pentagon on October 19, 2007.
