Major General George W. Keefe was the first Air National Guardsman to serve as adjutant general of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Major General Keefe enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard in 1956 and served for 12 years in fire protection and personnel before commissioning as a personnel officer. In entirety he spent 49 years in service. Major General Keefe’s hard work and determination allowed him to become enshrined in the US Air Forces Enlisted Heritage Hall at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama as one of the few General Officers who rose from the ranks of Airman to General officer. The 104th Fighter Wing pays tribute to a leader who helped shape the future of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
Transcript
Major General George W. Keefe was the first Air National Guardsmen to serve as Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Major General Keefe enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard in 1956 and served for 12 years in fire protection and personnel before commissioning as a personnel officer. In entirety, he spent 49 years in service. Major General Keefe’s hard work and determination allowed him to become enshrined in the US Air Force’s Enlisted Heritage Hall at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, as one of the few general officers who rose from the ranks of airmen to general officer. When asked what he found most rewarding about his long military career, he said I had the chance to meet and serve with the best men and women in the world. And my job was to take care of my soldiers, airmen, and their families. That was my passion. And I hope I made a difference for them. Major General Keefe has left a lasting impact on the 104th Fighter Wing, and his steadfast, compassionate leadership have been instrumental to our success.