COLONEL JAMES R. KEEN

Colonel James R. Keen is the Commander, 54th Fighter Group, Holloman AFB, New Mexico. He is responsible for the operations and maintenance of a newly formed F-16 Formal Training Unit. The 54th Fighter Group is under the command of the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Arizona and consists of more than 800 people including two Block 42 F-16 Squadrons, an Operations Support Squadron and two Maintenance Squadrons. He received his commission in 1994 from Texas State University in San Marcos. He earned his pilot wings from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training in 1996. Colonel Keen then had various assignments in the United States and the Pacific, including operational tours in the F-16 where he deployed to support operations Desert Fox, Enduring Freedom, and Southern Watch. Prior to this assignment, Colonel Keen served as the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region Liaison Officer to United States Northern Command at Peterson AFB, CO.

Colonel Keen has served as a Thunderbird demonstration pilot for the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada. Colonel Keen has served as an instructor pilot in the F-16C, AT-38 and T-38C. He is a command pilot with more than 3,100 flight hours, to include 169 combat hours.

EDUCATION

1992 Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology, Texas State University

1994 Master of Science in Industrial Technology, Texas State University

2000 Squadron Officer School Maxwell AFB, AL (Outstanding & Distinguished Graduate)

2006 Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, RI

2007 Master of Art in National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College

2008 Air War College, by correspondence

2013 National Defense University (ICAF), Washington, DC

2014 Master of Science in National Resource Strategy, Dwight D Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University

ASSIGNMENTS

February 1995 – May 1996, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
May 1996 – March 1997, Student, F-16C Fighter Training Unit, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona
March 1997 – May 2000, F-16C Mission Commander, 4-ship Flight Lead, Weapons Officer and Programmer, Chief of Flight Safety, 69th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Georgia
May 2000 – April 2001, F-16C Instructor Pilot, Functional Check Pilot, Mission Commander, Deputy Chief Wing Weapons & Tactics Officer, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AFB, Korea
April 2001 – June 2004, AT-38 Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Upgrade Instructor of Instructors, Flight Commander, Group Executive Officer, 435th Fighter Training Squadron, Moody AFB, Georgia
June 2004 – October 2004, Student, F-16 Transition Course, Luke AFB, Arizona.
October 2004 – June 2006, Left Wingmen, Instructor Pilot and Assistant Director of Operations, USAF Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds”, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
June 2006 – June 2007, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, Rhode Island.
June 2007 – December 2009, Future Operations Planner (A3), Division Chief Operational & Joint Planning (A5), and Deputy Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements (A5), 13th Air Force, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
January 2010 – May 2010, Student, T-38C Instructor Pilot, 560th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas (Distinguished Graduate)
May 2010 – May 2011, Director of Operations, 47th Operational Support Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
June 2011 – June 2013, Commander, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
August 2013 – June 2014, Student, National Defense University (ICAF), Washington DC
July 14 – July 16, Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region Liaison Officer to United States Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado
July 2016 – present, Commander 54th Fighter Group, Holloman AFB, New Mexico