Admiral Timothy J. Keating is the Commander, United States Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, as of March 26, 2007. A 1971 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he is a naval aviator who had two deployments in Attack Squadron 82 (VA-82) on the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), then served in a variety of carrier operational and staff roles. He took command of an F-18 Hornet squadron in May 1987, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) After duty on the U.S. Navy personnel staff, he became Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing Seventeen in January 1991, participating in combat operations in support of Operation DESERT STORM from USS Saratoga (CV-60) .
Admiral Keating next served as a Chief of Naval Operations Fellow with the Strategic Studies Group at the Naval War College. Following duty with the Joint Task Force Southwest Asia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he deployed as Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) aboard Nimitz to the Arabian Gulf. He assumed command of CVW-9 in July 1993. In November 1994, Admiral Keating reported to Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, as Commander, Naval Strike Warfare Center.
Between 1995 and 1998, he served in staff assignments, before taking command of Carrier Group Five home ported in Yokosuka, Japan, in June 1998. In September 2000, Admiral Keating reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy and Operations (N3/N5). In February 2002, he assumed command of United States Fifth Fleet and was commander of naval forces, United States Central Command. From October 13, 2003 to October 21, 2004, Admiral Keating served as the Director, Joint Staff. Admiral Keating assumed command of North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command on November 5, 2004
He has over 5,000 flight hours and 1,200 carrier landings.