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Keith B. Davids
Director of the White House Military Office
In office
September 6, 2017 – March 9, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byDabney Kern
Succeeded byMaju Varghese
Personal details
Born1968 (age 55–56)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
SpouseVice Admiral Yvette M. Davids
Children2
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
Naval Postgraduate School (MS)
National War College (MS)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1990–2024
RankRear Admiral
CommandsNaval Special Warfare Command
Special Operations Command South
Naval Special Warfare Center
Joint Special Operations Command Task Force, Iraq
SEAL Team One
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (2)

Keith Bently Davids[1] (born 1968)[2] is a retired American United States Navy special warfare officer with the rank of rear admiral. He served as the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command from 2022 to 2024.[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 first 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

Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Bronze star
Badge Special Warfare insignia
1st row Defense Superior Service Medal
2nd row Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal
with "V" device and 1 5⁄16 inch star 		Meritorious Service Medal
3rd row Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
with 1 5⁄16 inch star 		Joint Service Achievement Medal
4th row Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
with 1 5⁄16 inch star 		Combat Action Ribbon
with 1 5⁄16 inch star 		Navy Presidential Unit Citation
5th row Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation Navy Expeditionary Medal
6th row National Defense Service Medal
with 1 Service star 		Southwest Asia Service Medal Afghanistan Campaign Medal
7th row Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
8th row Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
with 4 bronze Campaign stars
9th row NATO Medal
for Ex-Yugoslavia 		Marksmanship Medal
for Rifle Expert 		Marksmanship Medal
for Pistol Expert
Badge Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia
Badge U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia
Badge Presidential Service Badge

Personal life

Davids and his wife, Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids, have twin sons, Kai and Kiernan Davids.[11]

References

  1. ^ "PN1011 — Navy — 101st Congress (1989–1990)". U.S. Congress. March 9, 1990. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Goldstein, Bob (March 26, 2019). "For Admiral Keith Davids Navy is more than career". Miami's Community News. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Retention of junior Naval Special Warfare officers" (PDF). Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Rear Admiral Keith B. Davids". navy.mil. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ 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)
  11. ^ "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
Preceded by Commander of Naval Special Warfare Command
2022–2024 		Succeeded by
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