AAFES Leadership

Major General Keith L. Thurgood assumed duties as the Commanding General and CEO of the Army and Air Force Exchange in August 2007. Prior to his current assignment he was deployed as the Commanding General, 143rd TRANSCOM (Forward) and Deputy Commanding General, 377th Theater Support Command (Forward) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with subsequent assignment as the Director of Movements, Distribution and Transportation, Combined Forces Land Component Command Kuwait.

In this role he was responsible for the reception and onward movement (deployment / redeployment) of personnel, unit equipment and all sustainment supplies for U.S. and Coalition forces in the Theater of Operations. General Thurgood is a native of Ogden, Utah. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps, after earning a baccalaureates degree from Brigham Young University, in August 1981, where he was a ROTC scholarship award winner, Distinguished Military Graduate, and the recipient of the George C. Marshall Leadership Award.

During his over 26 years of service, he has been assigned to a variety of command and staff positions, including command at company, battalion, and brigade levels. His overseas assignments include a long tour in Germany and multiple training assignments in Japan and Korea.

Previous assignments include: Assistant Division Commander Operations, 95th Division; Brigade Commander, 8th Senior Reserve Officer Training Corp, 95th Division; Battalion Commander, 2-382 (Logistics Support), 75th Division; Brigade S2/3, 4th Brigade, 95th Division; Executive Officer, 3-381, 75th Division; Motor Transportation Plans Officer, 96th Corps Support Command; Highway Traffic Engineer, 311th Movement Control Center; Motor Transportation Plans Officer 311th Corps Support Command; Support Operations Officer 4th Infantry Division; Company Commander, 4th Infantry Division; Battalion S2/3 Operations Officer, 4th Infantry Division; Exercise Plans Officer, HHC, 4th Transportation Command; Platoon Leader, 69th Transportation Company.

General Thurgood is a graduate of the Transportation Officer Basic and Advance Courses, NATO NBC Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Supply Management Officer Course, the Military Policy Orientation Course, the Observer Controller Certification Course and the U.S. Army War College. He holds an MBA from Boston University, a Masters in Strategic Studies, a PhD, in Organizational Management and Leadership from Capella University and professional certificates from the University of Tennessee and Northwestern University.

General Thurgood has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star), German Army Proficiency Fitness Badge and the Parachute Badge.

In his civilian occupation, General Thurgood serves as the Director of Strategy and Integration for PepsiCo, INC in financial, logistics and systems development roles. He is responsible for the development of supply chain and logistics strategies across a $30 billion enterprise.

General Thurgood currently resides in Plano, Texas with his wife Carol and has five children; Heather, Aaron, Ryan, Lindsey and Trever and three grandchildren, Caden, Owen and Kaylan.