Colonel GREGORY G. KELLER

Colonel Gregory G. Keller is the Commander, 35th Operations Group, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan. The Group is comprised of two deployable F-16CM “Wild Weasel” Fighter Squadrons, an Operations Support Squadron, and an Air Control Flight capable of conducting and supporting worldwide operations. Colonel Keller is responsible for flight operations, airfield management, wing intelligence, tactical air control, weather support, an F-16 Mission Training Center and the Draughon Electronic Warfare Range.


Colonel Keller received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the University of Notre Dame’s AFROTC program in 2001. He is a distinguished graduate of SUPT at Laughlin AFB, TX, F-16 FTU at Luke AFB, AZ, and the College of Naval Warfare, Newport, RI. Colonel Keller has served in a variety of operational roles as a Flight Commander, Squadron Weapons Officer, Wing Weapons Officer, Director of Operations, and Commander of the 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, AK. Prior to his current position, he was the Chief, J33 Current Operations Division, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs, CO.


Colonel Keller is a command pilot with more than 3,170 hours in the F-16 and has over 770 combat hours in support of Operations JOINTFORGE, IRAQI FREEDOM, and INHERENT RESOLVE.

 

EDUCATION

2001 Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV 2011 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2013 Master of Science in Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL 2014 Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Washington D.C. 2020 Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, College of Naval Warfare, Newport, RI

 

ASSIGNMENTS

1.January 2002 - May 2003, student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
2.June 2003 - May 2004, student, F-16 Formal Training Unit, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
3.June 2004 - July 2007, Assistant Chief of Standardization and Evaluation and Life Support Officer, 510th FighterSquadron, and Wing Electronic Combat Pilot, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
4.July 2007 - January 2009, Flight Commander, 34th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, UT
5.January 2009 - June 2009, student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
6.July 2009 - June 2010, Chief,Weapons and Tactics, 4th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, UT
7.July 2010 - July 2013, Chief,Weapons and Tactics and Assistant Director of Operations, 309th Fighter Squadron,and Chief of Wing Weapons and Tactics, 56th Operations Support Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
8.August 2013 - July 2014, student, National Intelligence University, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C.
9.September 2014 - November 2015, Assistant Director of Operations then Director of Operations, 52d OperationsSupport Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
10.December 2015 - September 2016, Director of Operations, 480th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
11.October 2016 - August 2018, Commander, 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson AFB, AK
12.September 2018 - June 2019, Deputy Commander, 56th Operations Group, Luke AFB, AZ
13.July 2019 - June 2020, student, College of Naval Warfare, Newport, RI
14.July 2020 - June 2021, Inspector General, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, ROK
15.July 2021 - May 2022, Chief, NORAD J35Warfighting Branch, Peterson SFB, CO
16.May 2022 - June 2023, Chief, NORAD J33 Current Operations Division, Peterson SFB, CO
17.July 2023 - Present, Commander, 35th Operations Group, Misawa AB, Japan

 

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

1.July 2021 - May 2022, Chief, NORAD J35Warfighting Branch, Peterson SFB, CO
2.May 2022 - June 2023, Chief, NORAD J33 Current Operations Division, Peterson SFB, CO

 

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,400 including over 772 combat hours Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16 A/B/C/D

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with two devices Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism 
Service Medal Korean Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service medal

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant June 18, 2001
First Lieutenant June 18, 2003
Captain June 18, 2005
Major August 1, 2011
Lt Colonel August 1, 2016
Colonel May 1, 2022

(Current as of July 2023)