Colonel Robert E. (Bobby) O’Keefe is the Commandant and Dean of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. SAASS is a selective, one-year graduate curriculum designed to educate strategists for the Air Force, Space Force, and the nation. In this role, Colonel O’Keefe leads a faculty of 17 terminally credentialed faculty members and 45 Air Force, Space Force, Department of Defense, and international students annually.
Colonel O’Keefe commissioned in 2000 through the Georgia Institute of Technology Reserve Officer Training Corps. Since earning his wings in 2001, he has served at the squadron, group, combatant command, and Department of the Air Force levels. Colonel O’Keefe is a senior navigator and certified Foreign Area Officer with experience in Latin America and Europe.
Prior to his current assignment, Colonel O’Keefe was an Assistant Professor in the Air War College Department of International Security Studies.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.2005 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Science in Exercise Science, California University, California, Pa., by correspondence
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Master of Arts in Security Studies, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2011 Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (Spanish), Monterey, Calif.
2015 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (French), Monterey, Calif.
2019 French War College (École de guerre), Paris, France
2023 Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations, American University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2000 – August 2001, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. August 2001 – January 2002, Student, C-130 Navigator Basic and Mission Qualification Training, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
3. January 2002 – January 2005, C-130E Instructor Navigator, Tactics Officer, Chief of Flight Training, and Assistant Flight Commander, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan
4. January 2005 – January 2006, C-130H3 Instructor Navigator and Flight Safety Officer, 50th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
5. January 2006 – June 2006, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
6. June 2006 – September 2009, C-130E/H Instructor Navigator, 39th Airlift Squadron; Flight Commander, 317th Operations Support Squadron; and Executive Officer, 317th Airlift Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
7. September 2009 – November 2011, Student, Naval Postgraduate School and Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Spanish Basic Course, Monterey, Calif.
8. December 2011 – June 2014, Air Force Special Assistant to the Commander, Commander’s Action Group, and Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Fla.
9. July 2014 – June 2015, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2015 – January 2017, Commander, 621st Mobility Support Operations Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
11. February 2017 – December 2017, Student, French Basic Course, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Monterey, Calif.
12. January 2018 – July 2019, Student, French War College (École de guerre), Paris, France
13. July 2019 – August 2020, Senior Executive Officer to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs (SAF/IA), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
14. August 2020 – June 2023, Doctoral Student, American University, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2023 – December 2023, Assistant Professor, International Security Studies Department, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
16. January 2024 – Present, Commandant and Dean, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2011 – June 2014, Air Force Special Assistant to the Commander, Commander’s Action Group, and Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Fla., as a major
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Navigator
Flight hours: More than 2,100
Aircraft Flown: C-130E/H1/H3, T-43A, T-1A and T-6A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Graduate and Ira J. Husik Award, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, 2001
Top Third Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Air University, 2005
General Joseph Kelly Trophy and Lieutenant General Harold George Trophy, Air Mobility Rodeo 2007
Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
Honor Graduate and Dr. Martin J. Kellogg Award for Academic Achievement, 2011
Distinguished Graduate, Highest Honor Graduate, and Provost Award, 2017
PUBLICATIONS
Cultural Momentum: The Impact of Agency on Foreign Area Officer Support to the Geographic Combatant Commands, Air University, June 2015
General Concern: The State of Current Civil-Military Relations in the United States, École de guerre, June 2019 (published in French)
A House Divided: Civilian Defense Policymaking in a Multiple-Principal System, American University, June 2023
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant May 31, 2002
Captain May 31, 2004
Major Jan. 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2015
Colonel Dec. 1, 2020
(Current as of February 2024)