Associate Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management; Associate Dean for Leadership; Lieutenant General, USA (Retired) Emory University, Goizueta Business School
Emory University, Goizueta Business School
View more experts managed by Emory University, Goizueta Business School
MA
Latin American Studies
1986
BS
Math
1974
2010
The following collection of articles focus on U.S. joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational (JIIM) activities, challenges, issues, and operations in the six U.S. geographic combatant commands (GCCs). Today, stability operations in Afghanistan and Iraq rightfully receive the lion’s share of attention, priority, and media coverage. There are, however, many other challenges, potential dangers, and future threats in the other five GCCs that merit attention and continuous observation and evaluation. The GCCs operate in challenging and complex environments, tackling a vast array of JIIM challenges and issues each day. The intent of the Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) is to illustrate some of the current challenges in this newsletter and highlight operations at the strategic or theater levels. [...]
2010
The devastation in Haiti caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on 12 January 2010 prompted the longest and largest U.S. military effort in a foreign disaster relief operation. The earthquake destroyed vast areas of Port-au-Prince, the nation's capital, as well as a number of communities to the west of the capital, killing an estimated 230,000 persons and leaving thousands trapped in the wreckage and over two million without shelter. At the peak of Operation Unified Response, 1 February 2010, Joint Task Force-Haiti (JTF-H) consisted of over 22,000 service members, 58 aircraft, and 23 ships. With the stand-down of JTF-H on 1 June, Operation Unified Response lasted nearly five months. This article contains our initial observations and recommendations to after action reviews and lessons that our military and interagency community should learn from as we prepare for the next foreign disaster.
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Associate Dean of Leadership and retired Army LTG Ken Keen led the relief efforts after the Haitian earthquake in 2010. What are the comparisons and/or shortfalls with the current efforts after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico? Source:
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Record amounts of rain fall will bring catastrophic flooding to the Houston area. How to manage such a crisis brings to mind any number of logisical nightmares and heart-breaking scenarios. Goizueta’s Ken Keen is an expert in crisis response. Keen was commander of the Joint Task Force in Haiti when the earthquake hit six years ago. He was charged to lead the largest U.S. military based response to a foreign disaster commanding more than 22,000 personnel, 19 ships and 57 aircraft. Keen spent 39 years in the U.S. Army with positions including Military Deputy Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, Commander, Joint Task Force-Haiti and Commander positions around the world. He can speak to emergency preparedness and the steps following a natural disaster. Source:
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With precious time until the Olympic Games begin in Rio de Janiero, what should be a point of pride for Brazil has been reduced to a cause for concern and worry for athletes, tourists, and international organizers. Concerns have ranged from venue readiness, Zika virus, bacteriainfested water and most importantly -security. Brazil is currently in political turmoil. Police and firefighters have been protesting and striking after going unpaid, body parts have been washing ashore and crime is rampant. In fact, in the first five months of 2016, 2,083 murders were reported (14 percent more than last year). With the world watching and the quality of security coming into question, is there reason to worry about the safety of our athletes or a potential terrorist threat at the Summer Games? Lieutenant General P. K. "Ken” Keen is a retired U.S. Army Officer and the Associate Dean of Leadership Development at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. General Keen is available to speak to media regarding security issues of such large events, potential threats, what athletes and visitors should consider if attending the Olympics. Source:
Newsweek online
2023-06-02
The end of the COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration on May 11 marked a potent milestone in the battle against that crippling pandemic. At this important moment we should all reflect on the vital lessons learned, so that we'll be prepared for the next global crisis. There are changes desperately needed if we are to mitigate disasters more effectively in future.
USA Today online
2021-08-17
"It was a little surreal when I heard there was another earthquake," Keen told USA TODAY. "But I remember experts saying back then that it would happen again, that it was on a fault line."
Ken Keen is quoted in this article for USA Today.
The Washington Post online
2021-06-29
One of those buildings was the Hotel Montana a couple of blocks away. Reinforcing the cruel chance involved, one of the U.S. service members on his team was killed inside, while two others “rode it down” as the building collapsed and survived, Keen said.
Ken Keen is quoted in this article for The Washington Post.
Salon online
2013-05-26
"As an AP reporter covering the earthquake, I anticipated violent mayhem. What I discovered was a country united.”
Ken Keen is featured in this article for Salon.
Washington Times online
2013-02-27
Ken Keen is quoted in this article for the Washington Times.
New York Times Blog online
2011-03-25
Ken Keen is quoted in this article for the New York Times blog.
New York Times Blog online
2010-01-18
Ken Keen is featured in this coverage of the Haiti crisis for the New York Times blog.
