Ken Keen is employed as a Highly Qualified Expert – Senior Mentor for the Joint Staff J7 in support of Combatant Command and Joint Task Force Operations and Exercises. He is also employed as a Senior Fellow for the National Defense University in support of the Pinnacle, Capstone, and Keystone programs.
Lieutenant General Keen is a native of Hyden, Kentucky and graduated as a distinguished military graduate from Eastern Kentucky University in December 1974.
LTG Keen retired from the U.S. Army on 1 March 2013 after thirty-eight years of active commissioned service. His final duty was as the Commander of the Office of the Defense Representative – U.S. Embassy, Pakistan where he served as the Senior Defense Official charged with coordinating efforts among the International Security Forces in Afghanistan on border operations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as supporting U.S. interagency organizations in security cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts.
In previous assignments, he was the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Florida. LTG Keen served as the Commander, Joint Task Force – Haiti during Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE in 2010. As Commander of all U.S. forces in Haiti, he led the largest U.S. military operation in support of a foreign natural disaster. Additionally, he served as the Director of the U.S. European Command Plans and Operations Centers and as the Chief of Staff of U.S. European Command.
As an infantry officer with 18 years on airborne status, LTG Keen commanded a Special Forces (SCUBA) Detachment; Company and an Airborne Battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division; 1st Ranger Battalion and the 75th Ranger Regiment; Military Group in Colombia; and U.S Army South.
LTG Keen participated in Operation JUST CAUSE as the Assistant S3 of the 75th Ranger Regiment and was Commander of a Ranger Task Force during Operation DESERT STORM as part of a Joint Special Operations Command.
LTG Keen currently is the Associate Dean of Leadership Development for Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business in Atlanta, Georgia. He also serves as a leadership consultant Executive Coach; as a Professor of Military Science at Old Dominion University in the Senior Mentor Program in support of the Joint Forces Staff College; and on several non-profit Boards in support of military veterans and international humanitarian organizations.