Colonel James R. Keen is the Commander, 54th Fighter Group, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Activated in March 2014, the 54th Fighter Group is an F-16 Formal Training Unit under the command of the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz., and consists of more than 800 people including two Block 42 F-16 Squadrons, an operations support squadron and two maintenance squadrons.
Colonel Keen 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. He served as an instructor pilot in the F-16C, AT-38, and T-38C, and he was a Thunderbird demonstration pilot for the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev. Prior to his current assignment, the colonel was the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region Liaison Officer to U.S. Northern Command at Peterson AFB, Colo. He is a command pilot with more than 3,100 flight hours, to include 169 combat hours.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science degree in engineering technology, Texas State University, San Marcos
1994 Master of Science degree in industrial technology, Texas State University, San Marcos
2000 Distinguished and outstanding graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies, Naval Command and Staff College, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2008 Air War College, by correspondence
2014 Master of Science degree in national resource management, Industrial College of the Air Force, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1995 – May 1996, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. May 1996 – March 1997, Student, F-16C Fighter Training Unit, 63rd fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. March 1997 – May 2000, F-16C Mission Commander, 4-ship Flight Lead, Weapons Officer and Programmer, and Chief of Flight Safety, 69th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
4. May 2000 – April 2001, F-16C Instructor Pilot, Functional Check Pilot, Mission Commander, Deputy Chief Wing Weapons and Tactics Officer, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
5. April 2001 – June 2004, AT-38 Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Upgrade Instructor of Instructors, Flight Commander, and Group Executive Officer, 435th Fighter Training Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
6. June 2004 – October 2004, Student, F-16 Transition Course, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. October 2004 – June 2006, Left Wingmen, Instructor Pilot, and Assistant Director of Operations, USAF Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds,” Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. June 2006 – June 2007, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
9. June 2007 – December 2009, Future Operations Planner (A3), Division Chief Operational and Joint Planning (A5), and Deputy Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements (A5), 13th Air Force, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
10.J anuary 2010 – May 2010, Student, T-38C Instructor Pilot, 560th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
11. May 2010 – May 2011, Director of Operations, 47th Operational Support Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
12. June 2011 – June 2013, Commander, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
13. August 2013 – June 2014, Student, Industrial College of the Air Force, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2014 – July 2016, Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region Liaison Officer to U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
15. August 2016 – present, Commander, 54th Fighter Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,100, to include 169 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-16C, AT-38, and T-38C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 1, 1994
First Lieutenant Aug. 1, 1996
Captain Aug. 1, 1998
Major Dec. 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2009
Colonel June 1, 2015
(Current as of Aug 2016)