Colonel Daniel J. Keenaghan is the Commander of the 351st Civil Affairs Command responsible for over 4,000 Soldiers, Civilians, and Families across two Civil Affairs Brigades and one Psychological Operations Group. He previously served as the 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training) Chief of Operations (G3/5) in Charlotte, NC, supporting over 7,000 Soldiers across 3 Divisions to recruit, train and employ Drill Sergeants to conduct Basic Combat and Cadet Training.
COL Keenaghan commissioned in 2000, at West Point, NY, as a field artillery officer. He served as a fire direction officer with C Battery, 1st Battalion (BN), 321 Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) (Airborne), at Fort Bragg, NC. Under 1/321 BN (A) he deployed to Kosovo as a platoon leader for peacekeeping operations, was a M198 airborne firing battery executive officer, and then the 1/321 FAR (A) battalion air operations officer. He commanded the 234 Field Artillery Detachment (FAD) (A) under the 3/27 BN, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)/ Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), and led them in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. Upon return, he consolidated 1st FAD (A) and 234 FAD (A), and deployed a radar section to Afghanistan, and then was the 1/321 BN (A) battalion assistant operations officer. COL Keenaghan continued federal service as a Presidential Management Fellow with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. State Department Civilian Response Corps for reconstruction and stabilization operations.
In 2010, COL Keenaghan joined the U.S. Army Reserve and the Civil Affairs (CA) community with C Company, 450 CA BN (A) as a team leader; commanded B Company, 450 CA BN (A); and mobilized for joint service on Provincial Reconstruction Team Khost with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Rakkasans), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), in Khost, Afghanistan. Upon return, he served as the 450 CA BN (A) battalion executive officer and deputy commander. He then was the deputy civil affairs planning team chief for 304 CA Brigade in Bristol, PA, and went to Vicenza, Italy, supporting U.S. Army Africa for Operation OAKEN STEEL, a non-combatant evacuation from South Sudan.
COL Keenaghan was next selected for battalion command of 450 CA BN (A) in Riverdale, MD, and then commanded 412 CA BN (A) in Whitehall, OH. At the U.S. Army War College, he was an assistant instructor for the Center for Strategic Leadership. He joined 352 CACOM, as Chief Civil Liaison to the U.S. State Department and then was the 352 CACOM Chief of Staff. He was selected for brigade command of 643 Regional Support Group in Whitehall, OH, under the 377 Theater Sustainment Command, where he trained and deployed Soldiers for operations in Canada, Germany, Iraq, Korea, Kuwait, Lithuania, and Poland.
COL Keenaghan has graduated from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, the Joint Forces Staff College, the Naval Postgraduate School, Seton Hall University, and the United States Military Academy, among others. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Master Parachutist Badge, among others.
In his civilian career, Mr. Keenaghan was a Senior Executive Service (SES) government official at the White House Office of Management and Budget, and previously led the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Insurance Service to achieve $1.5 trillion of coverage for 5.6 million Veterans, active, guard, and reserve Servicemembers, and Military Families. Dan lives near Philadelphia with his wife Anne, who is the Amtrak Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits, and their three children who are active in sports, music, and Scouts.