Lieutenant Colonel Patrick J. Keane
Commanding Officer, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
Lieutenant Colonel Keane was born in East Meadow, New York and earned his commission in 1992 via the NROTC program at Villanova University. Following The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course, he was assigned to 2d Battalion, 2d Marines. He served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Combined Anti Armor Team (CAAT) Platoon Commander, and Weapons Company Executive Officer. In addition to a deployment to Okinawa, he participated with the battalion in OPERATION UPHOLD/SUPPORT DEMOCRACY in Cap Haitien, Haiti in 1994.
In 1995, he reported to MCRD Parris Island for service as a recruit training officer. He served as a Series Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander in Golf Company, 2d Recruit Training Battalion.
Following graduation from Amphibious Warfare School in 1999, he reported to the 2d Battalion, 3d Marines. He served as the battalion S-4, Commanding Officer, Golf Company and Commanding Officer, Weapons Company; he deployed with the battalion to Okinawa twice.
In January 2002, he reported to 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a combat advisor/Marine Liaison Officer to the 2d Philippine Marine Brigade on the island of Basilan, Republic of Philippines for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM - PHILIPPINES.
In July 2002, he reported to US Marine Corps Forces Atlantic (MARFORLANT). He served initially as Aide de Camp to the Commander. He was reassigned as Commander, Task Force Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP), leading the effort to train a Georgian tank-mech task force. Upon redeployment, he reported to Coalition Military Assistance Transition Team (CMATT), Baghdad, Iraq for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) II, serving as operations officer for all advisor teams throughout the country. His last assignment at MARFORLANT was as a CENTCOM regional planner.
He graduated from the USMC Command and Staff College in 2006 and the School of Advanced Warfighting in 2007, earning two masters’ degrees.
Following school, he reported to II MEF, serving briefly as the Expeditionary Operations Officer/Current Operations Planner with the G-3. He was reassigned as the Future Operations Officer, G-3, II MEF (FWD), Al Anbar, Iraq for OIF 09.
In March 2010, he was reassigned as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, 2d Marine Division.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.