Doug Kennett devoted his life to service, leadership, and the power of clear, principled communication. Over a 30‑year Air Force career and a second distinguished career in the aerospace industry, he became one of the most respected public affairs professionals of his generation — known not only for his mastery of the craft but for the kindness, humility, and mentorship that defined his leadership.

Born in Toronto and raised in New Jersey, Doug was a naturalized U.S. citizen — and he became one specifically so he could join the Air Force. With a journalism degree from Rutgers and an AFROTC commission, he entered the service in 1967, and soon after picked up a master’s degree in counseling from Ball State.

Doug quickly emerged as a communicator with rare clarity and steadiness. Across three decades, he headed Public Affairs offices at bases in Texas, Korea, and England, served as Public Affairs Deputy for the Air Force Security Service, and then headed to the Pentagon to join the Air Force Press Desk, where he dealt with some of the most sensitive and controversial policy issues of the day. His leadership trajectory continued upward: Chief of the Air Force Press Desk, Director of Public Affairs for 3rd Air Force, Director of Public Affairs for Air Force Systems Command, Director of Air Force Media Relations, and finally Director of Press Operations for the Department of Defense.

He handled a multitude of tough issues. To name just a few: managing media during a multi‑day commercial aircraft hijacking in Korea, leading efforts to calm public fears about potential microwave hazards from a new ballistic missile radar warning system, directing media access for the unveiling and first flight of the controversial B‑2 Stealth Bomber, and serving as lead spokesman on two international trips with Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, first to former Communist countries in Eastern Europe and then to Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide there.

It was that kind of stellar public affairs work that led to the Aviation and Space Writers Association recognizing Doug as the top public information officer in the federal government when he was only a major.

But there was still more recognition to come. After retiring from the Air Force in 1996, Doug continued to shape national security communication as a senior aerospace spokesman for the next fourteen years. He joined McDonnell Douglas, where he soon coordinated the surprise announcement of its merger late that year with Boeing. He became Vice President of Communications for Boeing’s Aircraft & Missile Systems in St. Louis, leading 160 employees and managing an annual budget of $20 million. After St. Louis, he returned to Washington to lead Boeing’s media relations there from 2002 to 2010.

In 2011, he received the Aerospace Industries Association’s prestigious Lauren D. Lyman Award for lifetime achievement — one of the highest honors in aerospace communications. The award recognized his commitment and ability to ensure journalists “got the facts they needed and access to tell the aerospace story, both good and bad.”

Doug’s dedication to service extended into every part of his life. He spent 28 years on his condominium board — 23 of them as president or vice president — and served on the Board of Directors for United Community, supporting families in need in Fairfax County, Virginia. For Doug, volunteering was never a discretionary activity, it was a component of his character.

Whether in the military world or the corporate world, Doug’s leadership remained rooted in the same values that defined his Air Force service: honesty, accessibility, and respect for the people around him. While mission always came first, his management style meant he was also just plain fun to be around. In a field defined by words, Doug Kennett’s greatest message was the example he set.

Nowhere was that more evident than the role he played in promoting the professional growth and development of women in the military. Watch this video to see how much those on his staff appreciated and enjoyed working for him.

Doug passed away in 2023. You can read his obituary here, and an Air Force biography when he was a major is here.