Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Christopher Keen
Cmdr. Keen is a native of Mendota Heights, Minnesota. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Professional Flight from the University of Minnesota, Mankato. He subsequently attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) and commissioned in December 2005.
Keen reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas, for primary flight training in August 2006 and completed intermediate and advanced jet training in NAS Kingsville, Texas, earning his "Wings of Gold" in February 2007. Following advanced jet training, Keen reported to the "Flying Eagles" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 in NAS Lemoore, California, for initial fleet training in the F/A-18E/F Hornet.
Keen began his operational flying in February of 2008 with the “Black Knights” of VFA-154 also stationed in NAS Lemoore, California. Keen qualified as a forward air controller airborne and a rescue mission commander with the “Black Knights”. While assigned to VFA-154, he made a deployment aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and two deployments on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), participating in a Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), Western Pacific (WESTPAC), Operation Tomodachi, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
In October 2011, he reported to the “Gladiators” of VFA-106 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, where he served as an instructor pilot through August 2014 flying the T-34 and F/A-18 A-F. Throughout his tour, he served as an instructor aircrew, strike phase head, current operations officer, head scheduling officer, future detachment coordinator, physical readiness coordinator, and tactical demonstration pilot.
Following his tour at VFA-106, Keen reported to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) where he served as a fires officer and joint terminal attack controller.
Keen returned to the fleet as a department head with the "Diamondbacks" of VFA-102, a forward-deployed squadron located in Atsugi, Japan. Keen qualified as command duty officer (underway) and air interdiction mission commander during his tour with VFA-102. While attached to the “Diamondbacks", he accompanied the command’s move to Iwakuni, Japan, and completed three deployments aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in support of Seventh Fleet operations while serving as the administration, operations and maintenance officer.
Keen has accumulated over 5700 flight hours, including over 3000 flight hours in F/A-18A-F and more than 750 carrier arrested landings. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various service awards and ribbons.