Aaron Kinney

Interim Chief Operating Officer, Children’s Wisconsin hospitals

Aaron Kinney is Interim Chief Operating Officer of Children’s Wisconsin hospitals. In his role, Aaron provides oversight of our Milwaukee and Fox Valley hospital operations.

Aaron joined Children’s Wisconsin in 2014 and has served in hospital and practice-based assignments spanning outpatient, inpatient, surgical and community-based teams, including Executive Director of the Herma Heart Institute. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Children’s Specialty Group from November 2021 through July 2025.

Prior to Children’s Wisconsin, Aaron was Division Administrator for pediatric general surgery and pediatric urology with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). He served nearly eight years in the U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corps Officer and Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot, completing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. For his meritorious service, he was awarded a Bronze Star in 2008 (Iraq) and 2011 (Afghanistan).

Aaron earned a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and holds a certificate in public health administration as well as a master’s degree. He is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a currently elected board member of the ACHE-Wisconsin chapter where he co-leads the membership committee.

Aaron currently serves on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Milwaukee – Golf Classic Committee, as well as the American Heart Association’s Heart of Milwaukee Executive Leadership Team. Previously he served on the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce foundation board, as well as the Project ADAM national board. He also holds an adjunct faculty appointment at Marquette University teaching undergraduates in health care administration.