The Adjutant General

Massachusetts National Guard

Major General Gary W. Keefe

Major General Gary W. Keefe is currently assigned as The 43^rd Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard. He oversees the strategic direction, administration and operation of the Massachusetts National Guard, with an annual budget, and responsibility for facilities, equipment, and weapon systems assets in excess of $8 Billion, to ensure over 9000 joint Soldiers, Airmen and Civilian Employees are trained, equipped and mission-ready to support national security objectives both in the homeland and overseas, as well as protect life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety as directed in times of natural disaster and civil emergency within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

General Keefe received his commission in 1986 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Norwich University. Once commissioned he served as a Ground Launched Cruise Missile Launch Officer with the 71st Tactical Missile Squadron, Florennes Air Base, Belgium. He completed his active duty service in 1992 as a Peacekeeper Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Combat Crew Flight Commander, and Evaluator with the 90th Strategic Missile Wing, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. In 1992, he joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard with the 104th Fighter Wing as an Active Guard/Reservist. He has held the positions of Logistics Plans and Programs Chief, Supply Management Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Logistics Group Commander, Maintenance Group Commander, and Mission Support Group Commander. In 1999, during Operation ALLIED FORCE, General Keefe served as the Expeditionary Logistics Group Commander for the presidentially activated 104th Expeditionary Operations Group, Birgi Air Base, Trapani, Italy. He commanded 420 United States Air Forces Europe personnel comprised from the Air National Guard’s 104thFighter Wing, 110th Fighter Wing and the 124th Fighter Wing, as well as personnel from the United States Air Force, and Air Force Reserve. In 2003 during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, General Keefe served as the 387th Expeditionary Logistics Group Commander at a classified location in South West Asia. He commanded in excess of 800 United States Central Command personnel and was responsible for all aircraft maintenance and logistics activities associated with A/OA-10 Aircraft and Predator Remotely Piloted Aircraft missions throughout the Air Campaign. Prior to his current assignment, General Keefe served as the Director of Manpower, Personnel and Human Resources (J1) for the Massachusetts National Guard, the Massachusetts Air National Guard Director of Staff, Vice Chief of the Massachusetts National Guard Joint Staff, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, and Commander/Chief of Staff of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.

EDUCATION

1986 Norwich University, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Northfield, Vermont
1991 Lesley University, Master of Science, Management, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2003 United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2009 National Defense University, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Staff Officer Development Course, Fort Lesley McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
2011 Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2011 United States Northern Command, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
2011 National Defense University, Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort Lesley McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
2011 United States Northern Command, Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
2011 Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, United States/Russia Security Program, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2012 Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO21), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
2012 United States Air Force Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC), Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and Lackland Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
2012 Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Level IV Antiterrorism Executive Seminar, Booze Allen Hamilton Conference Center, McLean, Virginia
2012 Senior Reserve Component Officer Course, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
2013 Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executives in National and International Security Program, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2014 George C. Marshall Center, European Center for Security Studies, Senior Executive Seminar; “Adapting Our Strategies to Counter Evolving Transnational Terrorist Threats from al-Qaeda, its Affiliates and Advocates”; Garmisch, Germany
2015 Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, National Security Studies Fellows Management Course, Syracuse, New York
2017 University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar (AF ELS), Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2017 United States Air Force Advanced Senior Leadership Development Program (ASLDP), Strategic Engagement Seminar (SES), Warrenton, Virginia
2018 Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Executive Certificate in Public Leadership, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2019 National Defense University, CAPSTONE 19-3, Joint Base McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
2021 United States Air Force sponsored Alan L. Freed Associates, INC. Area Studies Seminars; “Africa Seminar: Demographics, Resources and Governance”, Alexandria, Virginia
2024 United States Army, Army Force Management School (AFMS) “Senior Leader Orientation Course: How the Army Runs”, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia

ASSIGNMENTS

January 1987 – May 1987, Student, Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) Initial Qualification Training, 868th Tactical Missile Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
May 1987 – June 1988, Deputy Combat Crew Commander, Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM), 71st Tactical Missile Squadron, Florennes Air Base, Belgium
June 1988 – October 1988, Student, Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Combat Crew Undergraduate Missile Training, 4315th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
October 1988 – November 1989, Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander, Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), 400th Strategic Missile Squadron, 90th Strategic Missile Wing, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming
November 1989 – April 1991, Missile Combat Crew/Flight Commander, Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), 400th Strategic Missile Squadron, 90th Strategic Missile Wing, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming
April 1991 – August 1992, Standardization and Evaluation/Missile Combat Crew Commander, 90th Operations Group, 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming
August 1992 – October 1994, Chief, Logistics Plans and Programs, 104th Logistics Group, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
October 1994 – October 1996, Supply Management Systems Officer, 104th Logistics Squadron, 104th Logistics Group, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
September 1995-October 1995, Logistics Plans & Programs Officer/ Installation Deployment Officer, Operation DENY FLIGHT, Aviano Air Base, Italy
October 1996 – November 1998, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 104th Maintenance Squadron, 104^th Logistics Group, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
November 1998 – May 2002, Commander, 104th Logistics Group, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
May 1999 – September 1999, Commander, 104^th Expeditionary Logistics Group, Operation ALLIED FORCE/NOBLE ANVIL, Birgi Air Base, Trapani, Italy
July 2000 – August 2000, Commander, 104^th Logistics Group, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH Air Expeditionary Force 7, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait
14.May 2002 – September 2005, Commander, 104th Maintenance Group, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
January 2003 – May 2003, Commander, 387^th Expeditionary Logistics Group, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM/IRAQI FREEDOM, Classified Location
September 2005 – January 2007, Commander, 104th Mission Support Group, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
January 2007 – August 2008, Director, Human Resources/Manpower & Personnel (J1), Massachusetts National Guard, Massachusetts Joint Force Headquarters, Milford, Massachusetts
August 2008 – May 2009, Director of Staff/Vice Chief of Joint Staff, Massachusetts National Guard, Massachusetts Joint Force Headquarters, Milford, Massachusetts
July 2009 – February 2011, Retired Reserve, United States Air Force/Massachusetts Air National Guard
February 2011 – December 2012, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Massachusetts National Guard, Massachusetts Joint Force Headquarters, Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts
December 2012 – February 2014, Commander/Chief of Staff, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Massachusetts Joint Force Headquarters, Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts
June 2013 – June 2016, (Dual Hat Assignment) Air National Guard Assistant to Commander, Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
February 2014 – May 2016, Assistant Adjutant General, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Massachusetts Joint Force Headquarters, Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts
May 2016 – Present, The Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard, Massachusetts Joint Force Headquarters, Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts; (May 2016 – Present), National Guard Bureau Security Cooperation/State Partnership Program (SPP) General Officer Advisory Council (GOAC); (May 2018 – Present), Chairman National Guard Bureau Counter Drug General Officer Advisory Council (GOAC); (April 2018 – June 2022), Chairman, Air Reserves Policy Committee and Major Command Air Reserve Forces Policy and Advisory Council, Appointment from Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters USAF, SAF, Pentagon, District of Columbia; (February 2024 – Present), Adjutant General Advisor to Director of the Air National Guard, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Secretary of the Air Force; (February 2024 – Present), Adjutants Generals’ Association of the United States Air National Guard Future Force Structure Committee Chair; (January 2025 – Present), Adjutants Generals’ Association of the United States Vice Chair Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) System Nationwide Integration of Timing Resiliency for Operations (NITRO) Project

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Bronze Star Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with Valor, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Kosovo Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal (with “N” Device)
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Frame)
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, M Device and Numeral 2)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal (with 1 Bronze Star)
Massachusetts Medal of Merit
Massachusetts Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Star)
Massachusetts Desert Storm Ribbon
Massachusetts Defense Expeditionary Ribbon
Massachusetts Defense Service Ribbon (with 2 Bronze Stars)
Massachusetts Emergency Service Ribbon (with 3 Silver Stars, and 1 Bronze Star)
United States Army, Association of Quartermasters, The Honorable Order of Saint Martin
Massachusetts Marine Corps League, Semper Fidelis Public Servant Award 2023
USS Constitution Museum’s Charles Francis Adams Award for Community Service 2023

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Republic of Paraguay Medal of Ministry of National Defense (Medalla Del Ministerio De Defensa Nacional)
Republic of Paraguay Medal of Honor of the Paraguayan Army (Medalla De Honor Del Ejercito Paraguayo)
Republic of Paraguay Medal of Aeronautics Honor of Merit (Medalla De La Aeronautica Honor al Merito)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

Adjutant Generals Association of the United States
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Massachusetts
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8006, Gold Legacy Life Member (2023)
American Legion Post #028
Association of the United States Army
Air Force Association
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts
The Military Order of the World Wars, Boston Chapter, Life Member
Yankee Division Alumni Association
Commissioner to Administer Oaths to Public Officers, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Board of Directors, National Guard Association of the United States (2016 – Present)
Board of Corporators, Florence Bank, Florence, Massachusetts (2013-2023)
Board of Trustees, Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, (2020-2023 (Chairman 2021- 2023)), Holyoke, Massachusetts
Board of Directors, Fisher House, Boston, Massachusetts, (2022-Present (Chairman (March 2023-Present))
Nominating Committee, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Veterans’ Advocate
Massachusetts Governor’s Veterans Homes Council Member (2023 – Present)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant 16 May 1986
First Lieutenant 18 September 1988
Captain 18 September 1990
Major 18 October 1994
Lieutenant Colonel 7 January 2001
Colonel 22 July 2004
Brigadier General (Line) 4 October 2011
Major General (Line) 28 January 2016

(Current as of February 2025)