CAPT Daniel J. Keeler
MISSION COMMANDER, PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 24-2
COMMODORE, AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON (PHIBRON) 1
Captain Dan Keeler is a native of Long Beach, California. He graduated with merit from the United States Naval Academy in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in political science. Following flight training in Pensacola, Florida and Corpus Christi, Texas, he was designated a naval aviator in 2000. He received his Master of Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2006 and completed Naval Nuclear Power training in 2019.
His operational assignments include tours with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five (HC 5), USS Peleliu (LHA 5) and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 (HSC 21). He commanded Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Four (HSC 4), and most recently served as the executive officer onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). During those tours, he completed eight deployments aboard multiple ships including the USS Essex (LHD 2), USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS 3), USNS Concord, (T-AFS 5), USS Peleliu (LHA 5), USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). During his department head tour, he also completed one deployment as Officer-in-Charge of the 2515th Naval Air Ambulance Detachment in Camp Buehring, Kuwait. During those deployments, he participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom. Keeler served as the commanding officer of USS Anchorage (LPD 23) from August 2022 to December 2023. He has accumulated over 2,700 flight hours, primarily in the MH-60S helicopter.
Captain Keeler’s shore assignments include tours as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) instructor pilot at Helicopter Sea Combat Three (HSC-3) and as a protocol officer to the 18th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin E. Dempsey. He completed a Federal Executive Fellowship at the Brookings Institution in 2018.
His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Air Medal (strike/flight), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3) as well as numerous campaign and unit awards.
Keeler assumed command of Amphibious Squadron 1 in January 2024.