OSI agent to receive Bronze Star Medal Wednesday

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
During a ceremony Wednesday, Special Agent Geoffrey Keller, Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 102, will be presented the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement while deployed in support of the Global War on Terror.

Agent Keller will receive the Bronze Star for combat counter intelligence operations while deployed to Afghanistan.

During his deployment, he directed counterintelligence collection regarding enemy capabilities and intentions within his area in Afghanistan. His achievements, according to the award citation, led to the identification and capture of enemy fighters and neutralization of specific threats to U.S. and coalition forces.

One achievement that Agent Keller found particularly rewarding during his deployment was locating and removing enemy weapons caches. "There were old, unexploded bombs and arms just buried out in the desert. Kids could go and play with them, or adults could use them to hurt other people. It was very satisfying to take those weapons away from people who could either get hurt or hurt others with them," he said.

For Agent Keller, the most fulfilling tasks that he performed in Afghanistan were humanitarian efforts, which allowed him to serve the poverty-stricken people in mountain villages near his base.

"We were able to reach out to some of the very remote villages and provide them with supplies, like clothing, blankets, food, medical supplies, medical aid, winter sweaters and even radios. I felt very lucky to be able to provide these things for people who really didn't have access to them," he said.

The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to individuals in the military service who distinguish themselves "by heroic or meritorious achievement or service ... in connection with military operations against an armed enemy," according to the Air Force Personnel Center Web site, www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/AwardsNet/decs.aspx.

Agent Keller is worthy of such a distinction, said David Harper, OSI Det 102 special agent in charge. "Geoff is a highly regarded special agent throughout OSI, and is responsible for conducting some of the most important counterintelligence investigations in the organization. His selection as a Bronze Star recipient speaks right to his character, professionalism and dedication to the mission and his country. He is a great person to have on the Det 102 team -- he brings a lot of experience, enthusiasm and energy to the fight," he said.

The recognition is the result of a dedicated team, Agent Keller said. "There are many people doing amazing things, so I'm honored to have been submitted for and be receiving the Bronze Star Medal. My receiving this award is really a testament to the team we had over there -- we had a four-man team, and three of us are receiving Bronze Star Medals.

This goes a long way to show what the OSI people are capable of and really validates our efforts."

He also credits family support with this achievement. While he was away, Agent Keller's wife was able to live with extended family, who supported her through his absence and the birth of their third child. "Everyone pitched in and helped her," he said. "For me, this was huge, because it allowed me to relax and really focus on what I needed to focus on [for the mission]."