Brig. Gen. Ryan P. Keeney serves as the Director, Concepts and Strategy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, DC. He assists with developing and synchronizing Air Force strategy, concepts, global posture, strategic assessments and the alignment of Air Force planning efforts with Department of Defense strategic guidance. He supports the Air Force Chief of Staff with strategy and concept development alongside the formulation and execution of Chief of Staff Title 10 wargames.
Brig. Gen. Keeney commissioned in 1997 with academic and military distinction from the United States Air Force Academy. He has served in fighter, test and RPA units and has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels as well as serving in a variety of staff assignments; including as the speechwriter to the Acting Secretary and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, DARPA Intern and Air Force Fellow.
Brig. Gen. Keeney is a command pilot whose aviation career includes more than 3,200 flying hours and over 450 hours of combat experience in the F-15C, F-16C, MQ-1B and MQ-9. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Keeney was the Deputy Commander, Seventh Air Force, Air Forces Korea; and Chief of Staff, Combined Air Component Command, Osan Air Base, South Korea.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Biology and Environmental Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 USAF F-15C Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nev.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Science, International Relations, Troy University, Ala.
2010 Master of Policy Management, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2020 National Security Managers Course, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2022 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Arlington, Va.
2023 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2024 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1997–October 1998, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Student, 89th and 90th Flying Training Squadrons, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1998–January 1999, AT-38B IFF Student, 88th FTS, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. January 1999–August 1999, F-15C FTU Student, 2nd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. September 1999–July 2002, F-15C Instructor Pilot, 19th FS, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
5. July 2002–September 2002, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. September 2002–July 2004, F-15C Flight Evaluator and Flight Commander, 71st FS, Langley AFB, Va.
7. July 2004–December 2004, F-15C Weapons Instructor Course Student, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. December 2004–January 2007, F-15C Weapons Officer and Instructor Pilot, 58th FS, Eglin AFB, Fla.
9. January 2007–July 2009, Chief of F-15 Programs, and Operational Test and Evaluation Instructor Pilot, 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla. (July 2007–October 2007, Service Chief’s Intern, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va.)
10. July 2009–July 2010, Air Force Fellow/McConn Public Policy Intern, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
11. July 2010–July 2014, Chief Speechwriter to the Undersecretary of the Air Force, previous Chief Speechwriter to the Acting Secretary of the Air Force, and Speechwriter to the Vice Chief of Staff, SecAF/CSAF Executive Action Group, the Pentagon, Va.
12. July 2014–June 2015, Commander, 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.
13. July 2015–June 2016, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2016–July 2018, Commander, 732d Operations Group, Creech AFB, Nev.
15. July 2018–August 2019, Chief of Staff, Office of Security Cooperation–Iraq, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq
16. August 2019–May 2020, Deputy Director, Operations and Communications, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
17. May 2020–June 2022, Commander, 49th Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
18. June 2022–July 2024, Deputy Commander, 7th Air Force and Chief of Staff, Combined Air Component Command, Osan Air Base, South Korea
19. July 2024–present, Director, Concepts and Strategy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, DC
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2018–August 2019, Chief of Staff, Office of Security Cooperation–Iraq, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, as a colonel
2. June 2022–July 2024, Deputy Commander, 7th Air Force, and Chief of Staff, Combined Air Component Command, Osan Air Base, South Korea, as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,200
Aircraft flown: F-15C, F-16C, MQ-1B, MQ-9, RQ-170, AT-38B, T-38A/C and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit (Cheonsu Medal)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1997 Distinguished Graduate, Kamenicky Trophy recipient, Lufbery Trophy recipient, U.S. Air Force Academy
1997 Aviation Week Tomorrow’s Leader Award
1998 AETC Commander’s Trophy and Distinguished Graduate, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training
1999 Academic Award, F-15C Initial Qualification Training
2001 Raytheon/Hughes Trophy recipient
2002 Distinguished Graduate and Chief of Staff flight, Squadron Officer School
2004 Academic Award, USAF Weapons Instructor Course
2006 Sijan Award recipient, 33d Fighter Wing
2008 Wing Field Grade Officer of the Year, 53d Wing
2014 Distinguished Graduate and Academic Award, MQ-1B Initial Qualification Training
2016 NDU President’s Award and Distinguished Graduate, National War College
2022 AETC General and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award
(Current as of October 2025)