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Keith Kellogg
Portrait of U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joseph K. Kellogg.jpg
National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States
In office
April 27, 2018 – January 20, 2021
Vice President Mike Pence
Preceded by Andrea L. Thompson
Succeeded by Nancy McEldowney
Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of the United States National Security Council
In office
January 20, 2017 – April 27, 2018
President Donald Trump
Preceded by Suzy George
Succeeded by Frederick H. Fleitz
United States National Security Advisor
Acting
In office
February 13, 2017 – February 20, 2017
President Donald Trump
Preceded by Michael T. Flynn
Succeeded by H. R. McMaster
Personal details
Born
Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr.

(1944-05-12) May 12, 1944 (age 79)
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse Paige Kellogg
Children 3
Education Santa Clara University (BA)
University of Kansas (MS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service 1967–2003
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands 82nd Airborne Division
Special Operations Command Europe
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Operation Just Cause
Gulf War
Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal (5)

Joseph Keith Kellogg Jr. (born May 12, 1944) is a former United States government official and a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. He previously served as the National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, and as the Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of the United States National Security Council in the Trump administration. He served as National Security Advisor on an acting basis following the resignation of Michael T. Flynn.

Life and career

Early life and military service

Kellogg was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Helen (Costello) and Joseph Keith Kellogg. In 1961, he received his diploma from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Kellogg was commissioned into the Army through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at Santa Clara University as an Infantry Officer. During his time in service, Kellogg earned an M.S. in international affairs from the University of Kansas. Kellogg later went on to study senior level management and diplomacy at the United States Army War College.

During the Vietnam War he served in the 101st Airborne Division and, after qualifying as a U.S. Army Special Forces officer, as a special forces adviser to the Cambodian Army. It was during his time in Vietnam that Kellogg earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star with "V" Device, and Air Medal with "V" Device. Kellogg also commanded 3rd Brigade, 7th Infantry Division during Operation Just Cause.

In 1980, then LTC Kellogg commanded 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and became the first light infantry unit to rotate to the Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) located in the Mojave Desert.

During Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, from 1990 to 1991, Kellogg served as the Chief of Staff of the 82nd Airborne Division and then as its Assistant Division Commander. Kellogg was subsequently selected as the Commander of Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR). In 1996, he took command of the 82nd Airborne Division and retired from the Army in 2003, as a lieutenant general after serving as director of command, control, communications and computers for U.S. forces under the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Kellogg was in the Pentagon during the attacks on September 11, 2001. Following the crash of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, Kellogg assumed responsibility of the alternate command post at Raven Rock Mountain Complex with United States Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.

From December 2003 to 2004, following his retirement, he held a leading position in the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Kellogg was asked to serve as Chief Operating Officer for the CPA in Baghdad, the transition government of Iraq, after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of that country and the signing of Coalition Provisional Authority Order 2 which disbanded the Iraqi Army. During this time, Kellogg, with a reputation as an "expediter" known for cutting through red tape, was tasked with ensuring speed and discipline during the massive reconstruction process. Following his service with the CPA, Kellogg was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

Private sector

Following Kellogg's retirement from active duty, he joined Oracle Corporation as an adviser to its homeland security division. He was employed by Cubic Corporation and earlier by CACI International Inc., since January 2005.

Acting NSA
Keith Kellogg, Acting NSA, awaiting POTUS on AF1

Trump campaign and administration

Kellogg was named a foreign policy advisor to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in March 2016. Trump put Kellogg in charge of the presidential transition agency action team for defense. On December 15, 2016, it was announced that Kellogg would be appointed Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary of the United States National Security Council by President-elect Donald Trump.

On February 13, 2017, following the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, Keith Kellogg became the Acting National Security Advisor in the interim of a permanent replacement being appointed. President Trump interviewed Kellogg and three others to determine who permanently to fill the position of National Security Advisor. The position ultimately went to H. R. McMaster.

In April 2018, Vice President Mike Pence chose Kellogg to serve as his national security advisor. According to the White House, Kellogg would continue to serve as an assistant to Trump.

During the Trump–Ukraine scandal which led to Trump's impeachment (and subsequent acquittal), Kellogg said he "heard nothing wrong or improper" in Trump's call with the Ukrainian president.

Kellogg spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention on August 26, 2020.

During the 2021 United States Capitol attack Kellogg defended Pence's decision not to leave the Capitol. While the Secret Service was attempting to get Pence to ride to a safer place, Pence insisted on staying. Kellogg reportedly told Anthony Ornato, former Secret Service and at the time White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, why Pence would not be evacuated, “You can’t do that, Tony. Leave him where he’s at. He’s got a job to do. I know you guys too well. You’ll fly him to Alaska if you have a chance. Don’t do it.” Kellogg made it clear that Pence would stay, even if he needed to remain all night." Kellogg is viewed as a "key witness" in the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack because he was with Trump in the White House as the attack occurred. Kellogg testified under oath to the committee in December 2021, telling them that the president's staff encouraged the president to take immediate action to quell the unrest, but that he refused.

Personal life

Kellogg is the second oldest of four children. His older brother, Mike Kellogg, is a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge. His sister, Kathy, is a former actress who is now a clinical psychologist and his younger brother, Jeff, is a former Long Beach city councilman, served as President of the Long Beach Community College District Board of Trustees, and now currently works for the California Community College system.

Kellogg married his wife, Paige, in 1980. Paige is a former U.S. Army officer and paratrooper who served during the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada. Together, they have three children.

Awards and decorations

Silver Star Citation

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

First Lieutenant (Infantry) Joseph Keith Kellogg, United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action while serving with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation EAGLE THRUST in the Republic of Vietnam. During an air assault, Lieutenant Kellogg pulled a wounded man from a fire line, then went on to attack an enemy bunker system with a machine gun. Running down the line, he destroyed five enemy bunkers with hand grenades. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Action Date: Vietnam War Service: Army Division: 101st Airborne Division

Kellogg's major decorations and badges include:

Combat Infantry Badge.svg
Bronze oak leaf cluster
"V" device, brass.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg
"V" device, brass.svgAward numeral 4.png
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg
US DoD Distinguished Public Service Award BAR.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgBronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Arrowhead
Silver-service-star-3d.svgBronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgBronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgBronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg 1 golden star.svg1 golden star.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Master Parachutist badge (United States).svg USAF - Occupational Badge - High Altitude Low Opening.svg Pathfinder.gif
Einzelbild Special Forces (Special Forces Insignia).svg Ranger Tab.svg BW Sonderabzeichen Fallschirmspringer.png
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png 504 PIRDUI.PNG
Top Combat Infantryman Badge
1st row Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Medal
2nd row Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit w/ one oak leaf cluster Bronze Star Medal w/ "V" device and four oak leaf clusters
3rd row Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal w/ "V" device and bronze award numeral 4
4th row Joint Service Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal w/ four oak leaf clusters Army Achievement Medal
5th row Joint Meritorious Unit Award Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service
6th row National Defense Service Medal w/ two service stars Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ Arrowhead device Vietnam Service Medal w/ seven service stars
7th row Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ two service stars Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) w/ two gold stars Medal of National Defense in bronze (Cambodia)
8th row Bundeswehr Gold Cross of Honour (Germany) Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation
9th row Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ '60- device Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Badges Master Parachutist Badge Military Freefall Parachutist Badge Pathfinder Badge
Badges Special Forces Tab Ranger tab German Parachutist Badge in bronze
Badges Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge Army Staff Identification Badge 504th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia

See also

  • Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019)
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