Keith Davids
American naval admiral (born 1968)
Keith B. Davids | |
|---|---|
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| Director of the White House Military Office | |
| In office September 6, 2017 – March 9, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Dabney Kern |
| Succeeded by | Maju Varghese |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1968 (age 55–56) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Spouse | Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) Naval Postgraduate School (MS) National War College (MS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1990–present |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands | Naval Special Warfare Command Special Operations Command South Naval Special Warfare Center Joint Special Operations Command Task Force, Iraq SEAL Team One |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (2) |
Keith Bently Davids[1] (born 1968)[2] is an American United States Navy special warfare officer with the rank of rear admiral. He has served as the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command since August 19, 2022.[3] He was the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command South, United States Southern Command from 2020 to 2022. Previously, he served as director of the White House Military Office during the Presidency of Donald Trump. Earlier in his career, he was commanding officer of the Naval Special Warfare Center and SEAL Team One.
Early life and education
Davids was born and raised in Miami, Florida. After attending private schools, he graduated from Coral Gables Senior High School in Coral Gables, Florida.[4] Davids graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990. He later went on to receive a Master of Science in manpower systems analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1998 and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College in 2012.[5][6]
After his commission as an ensign in the United States Navy, he received orders to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. He graduated BUD/S class 177 in 1991.[7] Following SEAL Tactical Training (STT) and completion of six month probationary period, he received the 1130 designator as a Naval Special Warfare Officer, entitled to wear the Special Warfare insignia also known as "SEAL Trident". As a Navy SEAL officer, Davids served as an assistant platoon commander and platoon commander for SEAL Team Two. Davids volunteered for assignment to Naval Special Warfare Development Group at Damneck, Virginia and completed a specialized selection and training course in 1995 where he served as element leader and squadron operations officer.[8] Davids was promoted to Captain in September 2011.[9]
Davids served numerous command and staff assignments including executive officer of SEAL Team Seven; aide-de-camp for Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet; military aide to the President of the United States; commanding officer of SEAL Team One, deputy commander of Naval Special Warfare Group Three; director of Operations at Naval Special Warfare Command; commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Center and commander of Special Operations Command South, USSOUTHCOM from 2021 to 2023. Davids was selected to serve as the director of the White House Military Office on September 6, 2017.[10]
Awards and decorations
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Personal life
Davids and his wife, Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids, have twin sons, Kai and Kiernan Davids.[11]
References
- ^ "PN1011 — Navy — 101st Congress (1989–1990)". U.S. Congress. March 9, 1990. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 195. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Cheek, Destiny (August 19, 2022). "Naval Special Warfare Command Holds Change of Command Ceremony". DVIDS. San Diego, California: Naval Special Warfare Command. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Goldstein, Bob (March 26, 2019). "For Admiral Keith Davids Navy is more than career". Miami's Community News. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ "Retention of junior Naval Special Warfare officers" (PDF). Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- ^ "Keith B. Davids – Director of the White House Military Office at The White House". THE ORG. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ Goldstein, Bob (March 26, 2019). "For Admiral Keith Davids Navy is more than career". Miami's Community News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020.
- ^ "Rear Admiral Keith B. Davids". navy.mil. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "NAVADMIN 250/11 SUBJ/ACTIVE DUTY PROMOTIONS TO THE PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY GRADES OF CAPTAIN, COMMANDER, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, AND LIEUTENANT, LINE AND STAFF CORPS, AND CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER W5, W4 AND W3//". Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
- ^ Perlman, Derek Kravitz, Al Shaw, Claire (March 7, 2018). "Keith B. Davids | Trump Town". ProPublica. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Meet the West Coast Reception Speaker". Global SOF. March 22, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander of Special Operations Command South 2020–2022 | Succeeded by Peter D. Huntley |
| Preceded by | Commander of Naval Special Warfare Command 2022–present | Incumbent |
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† Remained from previous administration.
