Joe Kernan (politician)

His mother, Marian Powers Kernan (1922–1998), held a variety of jobs, including a tenure C&P Telephone, where she worked her way up to a communications representative.

As a communications representative she handled The Pentagon's account, and held security clearance.

Kernan's father, Joseph E. Kernan Jr. (1923–2008), was a naval aviator during World War II and would go on to have a career in government service.

Joseph Eugene Kernan III (April 8, 1946 – July 29, 2020) was an American businessman and Democratic politician who served as the 48th governor of Indiana from 2003 to 2005.

Joe Eugene Kernan III was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 8, 1946.

He was the eldest of nine children.

Kernan's father was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee in 1963 fortthe 4th district seat on the South Bend Common Council, and in 1964 ran unsuccessfully for St. Joseph County commissioner.

Kernan's family moved to South Bend when he was ten years of age.

Kernan graduated from St. Joseph High School in South Bend in 1964.

Kernan played on the university's baseball team, serving as a walk-on on the freshman team, and playing for the varsity team his sophomore and junior years in 1967 and 1968.

He was initially an infielder, later switching to catcher in his junior year.

He graduated in 1968 with a degree in government from the University of Notre Dame.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Kernan joined the Navy in 1969.

Kernan joined the United States Navy in 1969, and served as a Naval Flight Officer aboard the carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63).

A naval aviator, he was shot down in North Vietnam and taken prisoner in 1972.

After he completed Naval Flight Officer training, reconnaissance training, & RA-5C Vigilante Replacement Air Group training, he served with RVAH-7 at Naval Air Station Albany, Georgia, until deploying to Southeast Asia aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, where he served (flying 26 missions over Laos and North Vietnam) from February 1972 until a two-seat fighter plane he was serving as a weapons officer on was shot down by enemy forces while on a reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam and Kernan was detained as a prisoner of war on May 7, 1972.

He was held as a prisoner of war for 11 months.

For part of his time as a prisoner of war, Kernan was imprisoned Hỏa Lò Prison, however he spent most of his sentence at a nearby prison dubbed "The Zoo".

Kernan was repatriated on March 27, 1973, and continued on active duty with the Navy until December 1974.

Kernan received the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Kernan served as a business manager and executive at several companies.

After his release, Kernan continued on active duty through 1974.

In 1975, after having completed his Naval service, Kernan worked for Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, supervising the manufacturing of Camay, Safeguard, and Zest products.

He then returned to South Bend, where he worked for South Bend Community Schools and later for the Schwarz Paper Company.

Kernan began his career in government by working for a month in the office of South Bend controller Peter Mullen for a month in 1976 on a special project related to license research.

Kernan served South Bend controller from 1980 to 1984.

He was appointed to the position by mayor Roger Parent quickly after Parent took office on January 1, 1980.

Kernan had been recommended to Parent by Peter Mullen, who held the position before Kernan.

As controller, Kernan served as an ex officio member of the Board of Public Works, and the water and sewage boards.

Kernan was tasked with overseeing the drafting of the city's $40 million annual budget.

While in this office, cuts were made in regards to the number of the police and firemen, which he later stated were necessary due to the budget squeeze caused by a state tax freeze and cuts in federal aid.

When Kernan left the post, Mayor Parent praised Kernan's work on the budget, claiming that Kernan took the job at the city's worst financial time and that, "just putting a budget together and making it work is an accomplishment, and Joe did a good job".

Kernan negotiated contracts for city employees, including contracts for the police and fire department workforces.

He previously served as the 47th lieutenant governor of Indiana from 1997 to 2003 under Frank O'Bannon and succeeded the governorship after O'Bannon's death.

Kernan had also served nearly a year as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.

A member of the Democratic Party, Kernan served as Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and then as the 47th lieutenant governor of Indiana from 1997 to 2003.

He became governor on September 13, 2003, upon the death of Governor Frank O'Bannon.

He lost an election to serve a full term as governor to former Office of Management and Budget director Mitch Daniels on November 2, 2004.

Kernan returned to South Bend and retired from politics.

As of, he is the most recent governor of Indiana from the Democratic Party.