A Combatant Commander’s Perspective on the Asia-Pacific July 16, 2008

Host: The Heritage Foundation. Admiral Timothy J. Keating is the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command based out of Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. He is a 1971 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a native of Dayton, Ohio. Admiral Keating completed flight training in August of 1973 before being deployed to the Mediterranean aboard the USS Nimitz. In May of 1987, Admiral Keating was named as the commander of The Strike Fighter Squadron 87 (VFA-87) aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Admiral Keating participated in Operation Desert Storm in January 1991 as the as Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing Seventeen. He later served as the Deputy Director for Operations, Operations Directorate, on the Joint Staff in Washington, from August 1996 until June 1998. He then assumed command of Carrier Group Five, based out of Yokosuka, Japan. In September 2000, Admiral Keating reported to OPNAV in Washington as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy and Operations (N3/N5). In February 2002, he assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. Fifth Fleet. From October 13, 2003 to October 21, 2004, Admiral Keating served as the Director, Joint Staff. Admiral Keating assumed command of North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command on November 5, 2004. He assumed command of U.S. Pacific Command March 23, 2007. Admiral Keating’s numerous awards include the Distinguished Defense Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and others.

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