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John M. Keane (born 1 February 1943) is a retired American general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1999 to 2003. He is a national security analyst, primarily on Fox News, and serves as chairman of the Institute for the Study of War and as chairman of AM General.
Keane attended Bishop Dubois High School and Fordham University, where he participated in the Pershing Rifles. He graduated with a B.S. degree in accounting in 1966. He then attended Western Kentucky University and graduated with an M.A. degree in philosophy. He later graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College and the US Army War College. NDS%20John%20Keane.pdf?ver=2018-04-04-114258-970 Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States: General John M. “Jack” Keane, USA, Retired - website of the United States Department of Defense
In 1991 Keane saved the life of David Petraeus during a live-fire exercise. According to Keane, Petraeus was shot "accidentally, standing right next to me, and I had to fight to save his life. He had a hole about the size of a quarter in his back and is gushing with blood, and we stopped the bleeding and got him on a helicopter and got him to a surgeon and so we were sort of bonded ever since that time."
Keane was under consideration to become the Chief of Staff of the Army in 2003, but declined the appointment. He retired from military service in 2003.
Debate was intense over how long the surge should last. Keane supported a longer buildup of at least one year. The surge was supposed to support the Iraqi Security Forces until they could assume responsibility for country security. The National Intelligence Estimate supported the longer timeframe, noting that there were problems with the independence of the Iraqi police from sectarian militias and death squads. Keane supported the view that distribution of economic assistance would have a more significant impact over a longer deployment because "with the short term surge...the enemy can wait you out."
Of his initial meeting with President Bush regarding the surge, Keane said that he made a phone call to Newt Gingrich to ask his advice prior to the meeting. As Keane said in 2014,
Keane was asked by Vice President Cheney to go back on active duty and to lead the surge in the field. When Keane declined, Cheney pressed him to come work in the White House and oversee both the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; Keane again declined. Keane ended up briefly working at the White House and then later traveled to Iraq several times to advise General Petraeus.
Keane is an advisor to the Spirit of America, a 501(c)(3) organization. He formerly served as a strategic advisor for Academi and is a former director of defense giant General Dynamics.
In November 2016, shortly after Stanley A. McChrystal declined the post of Secretary of Defense, Keane was offered an appointment to the post, but he declined, citing the death of his wife several months earlier. After Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned in December 2018, Trump again offered the job to Keane, who again declined.Bergen, Peter. (2019). Trump and his generals: the cost of chaos. New York: Penguin Press. . p. 49, p. 251 Ret. Army Gen. Jack Keane Says He Declined Offer To Be Defense Secretary, NPR (November 20, 2016).
Keane is considered an influential voice to leaders from both major political parties, including Donald Trump, particularly on foreign policy issues related to the Middle East.
He is a member of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee.
President Donald Trump awarded Keane the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 10 March 2020.
Keane's civilian awards include the Fordham University Distinguished Alumni Award, the USO 2002 Man of the Year award, and the Association of the United States Army 2001 Man of the Year award. Keane was furthermore awarded an honorary PhD degree in law from Fordham University and an honorary Ph.D. degree in public service from Eastern Kentucky University.
| Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster |
| Army Distinguished Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster |
| Silver Star |
| Legion of Merit with four Oak Leaf Clusters |
| Bronze Star Medal |
| Meritorious Service Medals with two Oak Leaf Clusters |
| Army Commendation Medal |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom |
| National Defense Service Medal with two |
| Vietnam Service Medal with two |
| Humanitarian Service Medal |
| Army Service Ribbon |
| Army Overseas Service Ribbon |
| Vietnam Campaign Medal |
| Valorous Unit Award |
| Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
| Combat Infantryman Badge |
| Master Parachutist Badge |
| Air Assault Badge |
| Ranger Tab |
| Joint Chiefs Service Badge |
| United States Army Staff Identification Badge |
| 502nd Infantry Regimental Affiliation |
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