John M. Keane
General, U.S. Army

John M. Keane was born on 1 February 1943 in New York, NY, to William and Maude Brown Keane. He has one brother, Ronald. He attended Fordham University, where he participated in The National Society of Pershing Rifles, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1966. He then attended Western Kentucky University, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy. He then attended Army War College and the Command and General Staff College.

Keane served in the Vietnam War as a paratrooper. He later served in U.S. engagements in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo. He commanded both the 101st Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps.

Key assignments include serving as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (1998-99) and Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1999 to 2003.

General Keane retired from active Army service in 2003.

Medals, Awards. Badges & Tabs

Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Army Valorous Unit Award
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Ranger Tab

Honors

• Fordham University Distinguished Alumni Award

• USO 2002 Man of the Year Award

• Association of the U.S. Army 2001 Man of the Year Award

In Retirement

After his retirement from the Army, he founded Keane Advisors, LLC, a consulting firm. He is also a national security analyst for ABC News. He serves as an advisor to the Chairman and CEO of URS, a large Federal contractor, and is a Senior Advisor to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

He is a member of the board of directors of MetLife; General Dynamics; AlliedBarton; and the George C. Marshall Foundation. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

General Keane has served an advisory role in the management of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, as a member of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee. In January 2007, Keane and scholar Frederick W. Kagan released a policy paper, entitled "Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq," through the American Enterprise Institute that called for bringing security by putting around 30,000 additional American troops there for a period of at least 18 months. In part convinced by this paper, President George W. Bush ordered on 10 January 2007, the deployment of 21,500 additional troops to Iraq, most of which would be deployed to Baghdad.

Personal

Keane married Theresa Doyle in 1965 and they have two sons: Matthew and Daniel.