Director of Cadets

Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony J. O’Keeffe, MMM, CD, MA

LCol Tony O’Keeffe enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1981 as a private and was posted on the Canadian Pine Tree Line early warning as a Radar Technician.  In 1984 he was selected for air-crew training and received his wings as an Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator.  In 1988 he was selected for commission under the Officer Candidate Training Program as an Aerospace Control Officer.

LCol O’Keeffe’s operational tours include 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron from 1984-1987 at CFB Greenwood, and 42 Tactical Radar Squadron as the Standards Officer from 1989-1992 at 4 Wing Cold Lake.  He served with 410 CF18 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron as the Deputy Weapons and Tactics Officer from 1992-1995, also at 4 Wing.  From 1998 to 2001, he was attached with the United States Air Force as a Mission Crew Commander on the E3A - AWACS with the 963rd Squadron at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. 

LCol O’Keeffe’s staff appointments include RMC as both Squadron and Division Commander from 1995 -1998, and later with the Director Military Careers as the AEC Career Manager in NDHQ, from 2001-2003.  Following that, he was posted to the Canadian Defence Academy as staff officer for CF professional military education.   In 2007, LCol O’Keeffe was promoted to present rank and posted to RMC as the Chief of Staff.  In 2008, he was appointed as the Director of Cadets.

LCol O’Keeffe has served 2 tours on Operation Southern Watch as Mission Crew Commander on E3A’s, enforcing the UN sanctioned no-fly zone over Iraq.   He also served in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Operation Bronze 2006/07.     

LCol O’Keeffe has a Bachelor’s degree in Military Arts and Science from RMC, and a Masters of Arts Degree from the University of Oklahoma.  He is a graduate of the CF 18 Fighter Weapons Instructors Course, and the USAF Air Command and Staff College.