MAJOR GENERAL SAMUEL C. KEENER
Maj. Gen. Samuel C. Keener serves as the Director, Joint Forces Development and Training (J7), Headquarters United States Space Command. US Space Command is one of 11 Unified Combatant Commands under the Department of Defense and is responsible for deterring conflict and defending U.S. and Allied freedom of action in Space.
Maj. Gen. Keener graduated from University of Tennessee and received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1992. His operational experience includes the Minuteman Ill Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, the early warning Solid State Phased Array Warning System and the Space Surveillance AN/FPS-17, -79 radars. He has deployed in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Maj. Gen. Keener also served as Senior Space Planner, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Joint Command (IJC), Kabul, Afghanistan. Prior to his current position, Maj. Gen. Keener was the Deputy Director of Space Operations, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, University of Tennessee
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Space 300, National Security Space Institute, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
2015 Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, US Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I.
2020 China and the Far East Political-Economic Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2020 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Alexandria, Va.
2021 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina
2021 Globalism vs. Sovereignty Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Alexandria, Va.
2021 National Strategic Studies Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2021 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Arlington, Va.
2022 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Warrenton, Va.
2022 Artificial Intelligence for National Security Leaders, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Mass.
2022 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2022 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Boston, Mass.
2023 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2023 Senior Acquisition Management Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2024 Disruptive Technology Course, National Intelligence University, Bethesda, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1993 - September 1995, Crew Commander and Chief of Operations Support Flight, 9th Space Warning Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
2. September 1995 - September 1996, Space Surveillance Crew Commander, 19th Space Surveillance Squadron, Pirinclik Air Station, Turkey
3. September 1996 - September 1998, Minuteman Ill ICBM Deputy Flight Commander, Minuteman Ill ICBM Combat Crew Commander and Instructor, 321st Missile Squadron, F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
4. September 1998 - June 1999, Chief of Simulator Courseware Development Section and Instructor, 90th Operations Support Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
5. June 1999 - June 2000, Flight Commander, 321st Missile Squadron, F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
6. June 2000 - March 2003, Chief of Offensive Counter Information and Chief of Information Warfare Plans, 9th Information Warfare Flight, Shaw AFB, S.C.
7. April 2003 - August 2005, Mission Evaluations Flight Commander and Assistant Operations Officer, 328th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. August 2005 - June 2011, Space Operations Weapons Officer, Chief of Operations Training, Chief of Current Operations and Flight Commander, 119th Command and Control Squadron, Tennessee Air National Guard, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
9. July 2010 - January 2011, Senior Space Planner, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Joint Command (IJC), Kabul, Afghanistan
10. June 2011 - June 2012, Commander, 213th Space Warning Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska
11. June 2012 - June 2014, Detachment Commander, 119th Command and Control Squadron, Tennessee Air National Guard, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
12. June 2014 - June 2015, Student, U.S. Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I.
13. June 2015 - August 2016, Space Operations Branch Chief, National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
14. August 2016 - February 2018, Strategy and Analysis Division Chief, National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
15. February 2018 - January 2020, Commander, 218th Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Tennessee Air National Guard, Berry Field, Tenn.
16. January 2020 - April 2021, Director, S-2/3/4/6, NGB-SO, Pentagon, Va.
17. April 2021 - July 2023, Deputy Director, Space Operations, NGB-SO, Pentagon, Va.
18. July 2023 - February 2024, Director of Operations (J-3), Combined Joint Task Force-Space Operations, Peterson SFB, Colo.
19. February 2024 - Present, Director, Joint Forces Development and Training (J-7), Headquarters United States Space Command, Shriever SFB, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2010 - January 2011, Senior Space Planner, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Joint Command (IJC), Kabul, Afghanistan as a lieutenant colonel
2. July 2023 - February 2024, Director of Operations (J-3), Combined Joint Task Force-Space Operations, Peterson SFB, Colo. as a brigadier general
3. February 2024 - Present, Director, Joint Forces Development and Training (J-7), Headquarters United States Space Command, Shriever SFB, Colo. as a major general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov. 16, 1992
First Lieutenant Nov. 16, 1994
Captain Nov. 16, 1996
Major Nov. 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2010
Colonel Sept. 15, 2016
Brigadier General April 1, 2021
Major General Feb. 6, 2024
(Current as of June 2024)
