LtCol Geoffrey J. McKeel
23 Jul 2014
Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey J. McKeel currently serves as the Executive Officer, Marine Corps Information Operations Center, Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps.

Second Lieutenant McKeel received his commissioned on 1 June 1996 from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in American Politics. He completed The Basic School with Echo Company in March 1997. After graduating from Aviation Preflight Indoctrination at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, he completed Primary Flight Training with Training Squadron 27 at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, earning Commodore’s List honors for excellence in training. First Lieutenant McKeel finished the Undergraduate Jet Pilot training syllabus with Training Squadron 22 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas and earned his wings as a Naval Aviator in July 1999. 

After completion of the EA-6B “Prowler” Fleet Replacement Pilot syllabus at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, Captain McKeel reported to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 (VMAQ-3) aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina in November 2000. During his tour with VMAQ-3, Captain McKeel served as the Ground Training Officer, the Schedules Officer, and the Aviation Safety Officer. He completed deployments to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia to fly missions in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH in 2001; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey to fly missions in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH in 2002; and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program in 2003.

In July 2003, Captain McKeel reported to the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit Houston, Texas to serve as the Marine Officer Instructor at Prairie View A&M and Rice Universities. He served as leader and mentor for 88 Navy and Marine Option midshipmen and 24 active duty Marine students and taught the Evolution of Warfare and Amphibious Warfare classes to students at both universities. During the summer of 2004, he served as the Platoon Commander for Third Platoon of Echo Company at Officers Candidate School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. In the summer of 2006, he served as the Commander of Troops for the Career Orientation Training for Midshipmen aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He also earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from The Pennsylvania State University in August 2006. 

That same month, Major McKeel reported to the Second Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to serve as the Project Officer for the Ground-Based Operational Surveillance System (GBOSS). He deployed to Camp Fallujah, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08 in 2007 to facilitate the GBOSS implementation across Al Anbar Province. Major McKeel returned to the EA-6B in August 2007 with VMAQ-1 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. During his tenure with VMAQ-1, he served as the Director of Safety and Standardization and the Operations Officer. He completed deployments to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq to fly in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 08.2 IN 2008 and Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan to fly in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM IN 2009. 

Major McKeel departed VMAQ-1 and in July 2010, reported aboard as the Fixed Wing Aviation Safety Officer for the Commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division in Washington, DC. During his tour at Safety Division, Major McKeel also served as the Aviation Safety Branch Head and the Deputy Operations Branch Head.

In March 2013, Lieutenant Colonel McKeel became the RQ-7B “Shadow” Requirements Officer for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Cell, Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation Department, Washington, DC. In January 2014, he assumed the additional responsibilities as the RQ-21A “Blackjack” Requirements Officer for the Aviation Department. 

Lieutenant Colonel McKeel assumed his current duties as the Executive Officer in June 2014.

His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with Strike Flight numeral 10, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award, and the Navy Achievement Medal.