[1][2] Minihan was commissioned in 1989 through Air Force ROTC at Auburn University in Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in economics.

On July 26, 2018, Minihan, while serving as the chief of staff at United Nations Command, led a delegation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to recover the remains of service members killed during the Korean War.

[9] On Jan 28, 2022, Minihan attracted attention online when he posted on Twitter a screen shot of his personal calendar revealing a mental health appointment with the text, "Warrior Heart.

[10] Minihan later stated to Air and Space Forces Magazine of the post, “I’m only holding myself accountable to the same standards I expect from the amazing airmen and families that surround me.

Warrior Heart is fine tuning mind, body, and craft to ensure individual and team readiness.

It’s a wingman and warfighting imperative necessary to win.”[11] On May 2, 2024, the enlisted force of Air Mobility Command bestowed their most prestigious honor—the Order of the Sword—to Minihan.

The common theme of the stories included connectedness and genuine care for anyone who crosses his path regardless of the rank.