Jack Keane

This article is about the U.S. Army general. For others named John or Jack Keane, see John Keane (disambiguation).

John M. "Jack" Keane (born February 1, 1943) is a retired four-star general and former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and a defense analyst currently serving as chairman of the board for the Institute for the Study of War.

Life and career

Keane was born in Manhattan, New York in 1943. He attended Fordham University, where he participated in The National Society of Pershing Rifles, graduating with a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1966. He then attended Western Kentucky University, graduating with a master's degree in philosophy. He then attended the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.

Keane served in the Vietnam War as a paratrooper. He later served in U.S. engagements in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo. His commands include the 1st Brigade,10th Mountain Division, 101st Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps.

In 1991 Keane saved the life of General David Petraeus during a live fire exercise. According to Keane, "he got shot accidentally, standing right next to me, and I had to fight to save his life. He had a hole about the size of a quarter in his back and is gushing with blood, and we stopped the bleeding and got him on a helicopter and got him to a surgeon and so we were sort of bonded ever since that time."

Keane retired from military service in 2003. He is also a national security analyst for Fox News. He 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 January 10, 2007, the deployment of 21,500 additional troops to Iraq, most of whom would be deployed to Baghdad, this deployment has been nicknamed the 2007 surge.

Military awards Keane has received include two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, two Army Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star,Five Legion of Merits, the Bronze Star, Two Meritorious Service Medal s, one Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Chiefs Service Badge, the Humanitarian Service Medal, five Legions of Merit, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge.

His civilian awards include the Fordham University Distinguished Alumni Award, the USO 2002 Man of the Year award, and the Association of the United States Army 2001 Man of the Year award.

Keane currently sits on the board of directors of MetLife, General Dynamics, AlliedBarton and consultant/strategic advisor Academi. He has also lobbied on behalf of AM General, the firm that produces the Humvee.

He is the son of William Keane and Maude (Brown) Keane, and brother of Ronald Keane. Keane married Theresa Doyle in 1965 and has two sons, Matthew and Daniel.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN

Military offices
Preceded by Gen. Eric Shinseki	Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army 1999 – 2003	Succeeded by Gen. George W. Casey, Jr.