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, 143^rd TRANSCOM (Forward) and Deputy Commanding General, 377^th 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, 95^th Division; Brigade Commander, 8^th Senior Reserve Officer Training Corp, 95^th Division; Battalion Commander, 2-382 (Logistics Support), 75^th Division; Brigade S2/3, 4^th Brigade, 95^th Division; Executive Officer, 3-381, 75^th Division; Motor Transportation Plans Officer, 96^th Corps Support Command; Highway Traffic Engineer, 311^th Movement Control Center; Motor Transportation Plans Officer 311th Corps Support Command; Support Operations Officer 4^th Infantry Division; Company Commander, 4^thInfantry Division; Battalion S2/3 Operations Officer, 4^th Infantry Division; Exercise Plans Officer, HHC, 4^th Transportation Command; Platoon Leader, 69^th 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, a.b.d., 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 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 $25 billion enterprise.