Colonel Jonathan A. Keller is the Deputy Commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. He serves as the second in command of the largest B-1B combat wing in the United States Air Force, with more than 8,500 active-duty military members, civilian employees, and family members.
Col. Keller commissioned through the University of Alabama Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 2002. He has served in a variety of operational B-52H Stratofortress flying assignments as a Navigator, and Instructor Weapon Systems Officer at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Minot AFB, North Dakota. He served as a U.S. Air Force Weapons School Instructor and later commanded the 340th Weapons Squadron at Barksdale AFB. His staff assignments include Headquarters U.S. Strategic Command, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, and the Joint Staff.
He is a Master Navigator with more than 3,100 hours – including more than 605 combat hours – while deployed in support of the Continuous Bomber Presence mission in the Indo-Pacific and flew combat missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve.
Prior to his current position, Col. Keller was the Current Operations Division Chief at the Joint Staff, J-3, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. His division was responsible for providing the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff updates on all U.S. Operations and current events that impact the Department of Defense around the globe.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2009 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence)
2013 Master of Arts, Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Air War College (Correspondence)
2023 U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2023 Master of Arts, Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2003–May 2004, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. June 2004–November 2004, Student, B-52H Initial Qualification Training, Barksdale AFB, La.
3. December 2004–November 2007, Navigator, Weapon Systems Officer, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
4. December 2007–December 2008, Unit Deployment Manager, and Instructor WSO, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
5. January 2009–June 2009, Student, USAF Weapons School, 340th Weapons Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
6. July 2009–June 2010, Global Strike Plans Officer, 2nd Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
7. July 2010–June 2013, USAF Weapons School Instructor, Phase Manager, and Assistant Director of Operations, 340th Weapons Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La. (May 2011–November 2011, Chief, Current Operations, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force - Afghanistan, Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan)
8. July 2013–July 2015, Chief Aircraft Emergency Action Procedures, U.S. Strategic Command, J-38, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. August 2015–July 2016, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. August 2016–September 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, 23rd Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D. (March 2017–September 2017, Director of Operations, 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
11. October 2017–August 2018, Director of Operations, 23rd Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
12. September 2018–November 2018, Director of Staff, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
13. December 2018–December 2020, Commander, 340th Weapons Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
14. January 2021–July 2021, Strategy Branch Chief and Senior Executive Officer to the Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Air Force Global Strike Command, A-5/8, Barksdale AFB, LA
15. August 2021–June 2022, Senior Leader Management Division Chief, Air Force Global Strike Command, A-1, Barksdale AFB, La.
16. July 2022–June 2023, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
17. July 2023–May 2024, Chief of Operations, National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center, Joint Staff, J-3, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
18. June 2024–June 2025, Current Operations Division Chief, Joint Staff, J-3, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
19. July 2025–Present, Deputy Commander, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: more than 3,100, including 605 combat hours
Aircraft flown: B-1B, B-52H, T-1A, T-43A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2008 2nd Bomb Wing Instructor of the Year
2017 Gen Curtis E. LeMay Award, “The Most Outstanding Bomber Aircrew in the Air Force”
(Current as of July 2025)