Our Allies in Ukraine
Nov 11, 2022
Colonel (Ret) Keith Nightingale
Our Allies in Ukraine

<--- US Airborne troopers during training in Poland with Ukranian forces.

Keith Nightingale was raised in Ojai and comes from a long line of distinguished U.S. military men, He was commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in 1965 from Claremont McKenna College. He graduated from Airborne, Jumpmaster, and Ranger Schools and retired as a Colonel in 1993. During that time he commanded four rifle companies, three battalions, and two brigades -- all Airborne or Ranger units, some in combat. He served two tours in Vietnam, was part of the Iran Rescue Attempt, was an assault force commander in Grenada, and managed the Department of Defense Interagency Counterdrug Task Force for Latin America from Panama -- a portion of which was devoted to the capture of Pablo Escobar. He was an original member of Joint Special Operations Command as well as a founding Plankholder for the 1st Ranger Battalion in 1974. After retiring from the military, he joined Science Applications International Corporation and as Senior Corporate Vice President, managed over a thousand international contracts and security programs in the Middle East conflict zone, and was responsible for the safety and security of all employees around the world. He presently serves as a consultant and advisor to several government personalities and organizations. Colonel (Ret) Nightingale is a member of the 82nd Airborne and Ranger Hall of Fame. He holds the French Legion of Honor, Officer Class (Legion d’honneur, Officier). His books, ranging on topics from Normandy to Vietnam to the present day, are available in bookstores and on Amazon. He still resides in Ojai’s East End, where he grows limes and kills gophers.