BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD F. KEENE

Assistant to the Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command

Brigadier General Richard F. Keene is currently serving as the Assistant to the Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command, responsible for representing United States Special Operations Command and the Component Commands to the Joint Staff, Service Staffs, Office of the Secretary of Defense and other governmental agencies in the National Capitol Region. He provides timely and critical information flow, coordination, liaison, research, analysis and advice as a well as special operations forces unique expertise in the areas of plans and policy; programs and resources; and current operations. General Keene serves as a General Officer/Flag Officer level interface to senior military and civilian leadership in the Pentagon and oversees the conduct of a forward operating base for the United States Special Operations Command Commander, Deputy Commander and staff to conduct business in the Pentagon and National Capitol Region.

General Keene was commissioned in 1985 through the State Officer Candidate School at 243d Regional Training Institute, Narragansett, Rhode Island. He served as the Director of Operations for Joint Special Operations Task Force Horn of Africa, Special Operations Liaison Element to Nairobi, Kenya for Joint Special Operations Task Force Horn of Africa, Operations Officer within the Future Operations Division of United States Special Operations Command, Deputy Commander for Inter-Agency Coordination for Special Operations Command South and Commander, Special Operations Command-Forward in Bogota, Colombia.

Prior to receiving his commission, General Keene served an active duty enlistment in the United States Navy as a Petty Officer, heavy equipment operator, as well as in the Rhode Island Army National Guard as a Special Forces Radio Operator Non-Commissioned Officer.

EDUCATION:

1979 Community College of Rhode Island, Associates of Fire Science, Providence, Rhode Island
1987 Providence College, Bachelor of Science, Fire Safety, Providence, Rhode Island
2004 United States Army War College, by correspondence
2004 United States Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. January 1985 - February 1986, S-2/Assistant S-3, 243rd Engineer Battalion, Warwick, Rhode Island
2. February 1986 - April 1988, Platoon Leader, 861st Engineer Company, East Greenwich, Rhode Island
3. May 1988 - October 1988, Executive Officer, Special Forces Operational Detachment A, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, East Greenwich, Rhode Island
4. November 1988 - April 1989, Commander, Special Forces Operational Detachment A, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, East Greenwich, Rhode Island
5. May 1989 - December 1992, Executive Officer, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, East Greenwich, Rhode Island
6. January 1993 - November 1995, Commander, Detachment 2, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry, Cranston, Rhode Island
7. December 1985 - August 1997, Commander, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, East Greenwich, Rhode Island
8. September 1997 - April 2000, Executive Officer, 243rd Regional Training Institute, Narragansett, Rhode Island
9. May 2000 - June 2001, Commander, 243rd Regional Training Institute, Narragansett, Rhode Island
10. July 2001 - June 2004, Personnel/Family Services Officer, Cranston, Rhode Island
11. July 2005 - July 2007, Deputy Commander, Special Operations Detachment-Global, Coventry, Rhode Island
12. August 2007 - June 2010, Commander, Special Operations Detachment-Global, Coventry, Rhode Island
13. June 2010 - Present, Assistant to the Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass, M Device and Numeral 4)
Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (with Numeral 3)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 3)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Special Forces Tab
Master Parachute Badge
Thailand Parachute Badge
Kenya Parachute Badge
Colombia Parachute Badge

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Rhode Island
Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 3 January 1985
First Lieutenant 2 January 1988
Captain 1 February 1990
Major 15 February 1996
Lieutenant Colonel 25 July 2000
Colonel 8 May 2007
Brigadier General 22 December 2010

(Current as of January 2012)