Maj Gen Randy “Church” Kee, USAF (Ret.)

Maj Gen Randy “Church” Kee, United States Air Force (Ret.), serves as the Senior Advisor, Arctic Security Affairs, to assist with establishing the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the Department of Defense’s sixth and newest regional center and is being established in Anchorage Alaska.

Kee is responsible for supporting the establishment and early operations of the new DoD institution, with the mission to engage in regional and global security issues through research, communication, and education. The goal of the center is to build strong, sustainable, international networks of security leaders to advance U.S. national security priorities in the Arctic region. Kee will also work with partner nations to ensure a stable, rules-based order in the Arctic that will benefit the United States and all Arctic nations.

In 2020, the President of the U.S. appointed Kee as a Commissioner to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, and from 4 January 2016 to 22 August 2021 he served as the Executive Director of the Arctic Domain Awareness Center, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Excellence in Maritime Research, hosted by the University of Alaska. During his tenure in leading ADAC, DHS Science and Technology Office of University Programs, U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Arctic Research Community recognized the Center for contributions to “operator relevant” Arctic science and technology innovations, education and convergence events specifically oriented to address the challenges and to “enable the decision maker” in Arctic maritime crisis response.

In volunteer “pro-bono” capacities, Kee serves a Global Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson Polar Institute; Network member of the Canadian Hosted North American and Arctic Defense and Security Network; he is the designated U.S. lead for a technology working group hosted by the Chief of Naval Research in support of the International Cooperative Engagement Program for Polar Research; and serves as the Co-chair of the Alaska Civilian Armed Services Team, a State of Alaska Advisory Board to the Governor.

During his 30-year military career, Kee led at the squadron, group, wing, and Air Operations Center levels. General Kee’s staff assignments include U.S. Transportation Command, Headquarters USAF, and the U.S. Joint Staff in both Operations plus Strategic Plans and Policy Directorates. While in uniform he contributed to U.S. Arctic Strategy, supported domain awareness technology development, and Defense Support to Arctic crisis response. He culminated his military service as Director of Strategy, Policy, Planning and Capabilities for U.S. European Command (ECJ5/8) in Stuttgart, Germany.