Ken Keen

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Ken Keen
P. K. (Ken) Keen.jpg
Lieutenant General Ken Keen in 2009
Nickname(s)Ken
BornJuly 1952 (age 69)
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1974–2013
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldOperation Unified Response
United States Army South
United States Military Group Bogota
75th Ranger Regiment
1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Battles/warsUnited States invasion of Panama
Gulf War
Operation Unified Response
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (3)

Purl Kenneth Keen (born July 1952)[1] is a retired United States Army officer.[2] He last served as the commander of the Office of the Defense Representative, U.S. Embassy Pakistan and before that served as Military Deputy Commander of United States Southern Command.

Early life and education[]

Keen is a native of Hyden, Kentucky. He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. He later earned a Master of Arts in Latin American studies from the University of Florida. Keen also studied at the and the United States Army War College.

Military career[]

An Infantry officer with 18 years on airborne status, Keen has commanded Light Airborne Infantry, Ranger, Special Forces, Military Group and Army Component units. His commands include a Special Forces Detachment (SCUBA) in 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group; Company and Battalion Commands in the 82nd Airborne Division; Command of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; Command of the 75th Ranger Regiment; Command of United States Military Group Bogota, Colombia; Command of United States Army South (USARSO); and Command of Joint Task Force Haiti – Operation Unified Response.

Keen participated in Operation Just Cause as the Assistant S3 of the 75th Ranger Regiment and was Commander, Ranger Task Force during Operation Desert Storm as part of Joint Special Operations Command.

From September 2007 to September 2009, he served as the Director of the United States European Command Plans and Operations Center and the EUCOM Chief of Staff.

Keen is now a professor and the Associate Dean of Leadership Development at Emory University's Goizueta School of Business in Atlanta, Georgia.[2]

Awards and decorations[]

Combat Infantry Badge.svg Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantry Badge.svg Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist badge (United States).svg  Master Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder.gif Pathfinder Badge
Ranger Tab.svg Ranger tab
SpecialForcesTabMetal.jpg Special Forces Tab
SFDiver.PNG Special Operations Diver Badge
No free image.png
Seal of the United States Southern Command.svg United States Southern Command Identification Badge
75 Ranger Regiment SCSIB.png 75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge
75 Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia.svg 75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Bronze-service-star-3d.pngBronze-service-star-3d.png Southwest Asia Service Medal with two campaign stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Award numeral 4.png Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 4
Multinational Force and Observers Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References[]

  1. ^ "Purl Keen's Background & Public Record Information". Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  2. ^ a b "P. K. (Ken) Keen Biography". Emory University. Retrieved January 6, 2016.

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment
1999–2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by
???
Military Deputy Commander of the United States Southern Command
201?–2011
Succeeded by


Retrieved from ""