Military Entrance Processing Station

Major Sean Keenan

United States Marine Corps
Des Moines Military Entrance Processing Station

Major Sean Keenan is the commander of the Des Moines Military Entrance Processing Station.

Major Keenan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 1991, and completed from Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., in November 1992. Upon completion of Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, N.C., he reported for training at Naval Air Station Millington, Tenn., and was selected for training as a KC-130 loadmaster. He completed Naval Aircrew Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and reported for duty as a loadmaster student at Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Training Squadron-253 (The Raiders) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. He completed loadmaster training and earned his naval aircrew wings in September 1993, and was then assigned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif., where he served with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron-352 where he served as a squadron loadmaster. In August 1997, upon completion of his enlistment, Major Keenan was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in the rank of sergeant, and returned to Raleigh, N.C., to pursue higher education.

Major Keenan completed the Platoon Leaders Course Combined in the summer of 2000 at Quantico, Va., and upon graduating from Campbell University, Buies Creek, N.C., with a bachelor of science degree in government, he received his commission as a second lieutenant in December 2001. After completing The Basic School, he reported for flight training at Marine Aviation Training Support Group-21 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Major Keenan completed flight training and earned his naval aviator wings in December 2004, and was selected to fly the UH-1N helicopter. After completing the Basic UH-1N Transition Course at Marine Helicopter Training Squadron-303 at Camp Pendleton, Ca in the spring of 2005, he reported for duty as a squadron pilot with the Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-167 (The Warriors). In December 2005, Major Keenan deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Major Keenan deployed two more times to Iraq with the Warriors and in January 2009, reported to Marine Combat Service Support School, for training as an adjutant.

Major Keenan reported for duty as the battalion adjutant with Headquarters and Service Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in March 2009, and in October 2010, deployed to the Kingdom of Bahrain where he served as the Deputy Human Resources/Operations Officer for Marine Corps Forces Central Command (Forward). In July 2011, Major Keenan assumed command of Headquarters Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Major Keenan’s military awards and decorations include the Air Medal with Strike and Flight Numeral 6 and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.