Joseph Devereux Kernan[1] (born February 4, 1955) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral and the former under secretary of defense for intelligence.

He attended Surface Warfare Officer School and reported to USS Horne (CG-30) based in San Diego, California.

Upon completion of his initial tour with the Surface Warfare community, Kernan received orders to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training.

As a Captain, he served as commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Development Group from June 1999 to Aug 2003.

[7] On April 24, 2008, Admiral Gary Roughead, the Chief of Naval Operations, announced that the United States Fourth Fleet would be re-established, effective July 1, with responsibility for United States Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the Caribbean Sea, as well as throughout Central and South America, with Kernan as the fleet commander, as well as Commander, United States Naval Forces Southern Command, the naval component of the United States Southern Command.

After his military retirement, Kernan served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for SAP National Security Services.

[10] On July 17, 2017, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Kernan to the position of Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

[5] Kernan also serves as the chairman of NS2 Serves, a "veteran training and employment program," as well as on the board of directors for both the National Navy SEAL Museum and The Mission Continues, a nonprofit founded by former Missouri governor and former SEAL, Eric Greitens.