| Timothy J. Keating | |
| Born: | 5 November 1949 |
| Placeofbirth: | Dayton, Ohio |
| Branch: | United States Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1971 - present |
| Rank: | Admiral |
| Commands: | U.S. Pacific Command U.S. Northern Command U.S. 5th Fleet Carrier Group Five Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center Carrier Air Wing 9 VFA-87 |
| Battles: | Gulf War |
| Awards: | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (4) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (4) Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN is the current Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD); the first Navy officer to become USNORTHCOM's combatant commander. He assumed his current assignment on March 26, 2007.
Keating was born on November 5 1949 in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1971. Following duty aboard in the western Pacific, he completed flight training in August 1973. He was ordered to VA-82, deploying twice to the Mediterranean aboard .
In September 1978, he reported to VA-122, NAS Lemoore, California, and subsequently served with Commander, Carrier Air Wing Fifteen as Staff Landing Signal Officer, deploying to the western Pacific/Indian Ocean aboard . From May 1982 to July 1984, as Administrative Officer, Operations Officer and Maintenance Officer with VA-94, he deployed twice to the western Pacific aboard . His next assignment was Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command.
In May 1987, Admiral Keating assumed command of VFA-87 and deployed with CVW-8 aboard to the North Atlantic and to the Mediterranean. After his tour with VFA-87, he was assigned to the Naval Military Personnel Command in Washington, D.C., where he served as Head of the Aviation Junior Officer Assignments Branch. He reported as Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing Seventeen in January 1991, participating in combat operations in support of Operation Desert Storm from .
Admiral Keating next served as a Chief of Naval Operations Fellow with the Strategic Studies Group in Newport, Rhode Island. Following duty with the Joint Task Force Southwest Asia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he deployed as Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing Nine aboard to the Persian Gulf. He assumed command of CVW-9 in July 1993. In November 1994, Admiral Keating reported to NAS Fallon, Nevada, as Commander of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center.
Admiral Keating returned to the Naval Military Personnel Command in September 1995 as Director, Aviation Officer Distribution Division. He served as the Deputy Director for Operations (Current Operations/J33), Operations Directorate, the Joint Staff, Washington, from August 1996 until June 1998. He assumed command of Carrier Group Five, home ported in Yokosuka, Japan, in June 1998. In September 2000, Admiral Keating reported to OPNAV in Washington as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy and Operations (N3/N5). In February 2002, he assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. Fifth Fleet. From October 13, 2003 to October 21, 2004, Admiral Keating served as the Director, Joint Staff. Admiral Keating assumed command of North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command on November 5, 2004.
His awards include:
| Defense Distinguished Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters | |
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star | |
| Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars | |
| Defense Meritorious Service Medal | |
| Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star | |
| three Air Medals | |
| Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and Combat “V” | |
| Navy Achievement Medal with Silver Award Star |