17th AFOSI commander assumes command

  • Published
  • By AFOSI Public Affairs
QUANTICO, Va. --  Brigadier General Keith M. Givens officially took command of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations during a change of command ceremony held at Quantico Marine Corps Base, Va., May 7, in the Clubs at Quantico. The ceremony was hosted by the Inspector General of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Stephen P. Mueller.

Brig. Gen. Givens graduated from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. He entered the Air Force in 1986 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. He has spent the majority of his career as an AFOSI special agent where he has conducted and supervised felony-level criminal, fraud, and counterintelligence investigations and operations. He has commanded at the detachment, squadron and wing levels. His assignments have included four overseas postings.

Prior to his new assignment as AFOSI commander, Brig. Gen. Givens served as the Director, Special Investigation, Office of the Inspector General, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. where he led the directorate in developing and implementing all Air Force-level plans and policies concerning criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations within the Department of Defense and other governmental departments and agencies.

Brig. Gen. Givens has had a broad and varied career spanning more than 27 years with multiple command positions, including a recent assignment as AFOSI's vice commander. He assumes command as the 17th AFOSI commander! Prior to today's change of command ceremony, Brig. Gen. Givens pinned on the permanent rank of Brigadier General today effective June 2014.

Brig. Gen. Givens received the AFOSI guideon from Lt. Gen. Mueller officially denoting the departure of Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Jacobsen as outgoing AFOSI commander. The change of command ceremony was attended by approximately 300 people represented by AFOSI Special Agents, DoD employees and members of the Givens' and Jacobsen families.

"I am really honored to present this change of command because it's doubly special because of Keith's promotion," Lt. Gen. Mueller said.  "I have no doubt that the Air Force got it correct with his promotion. Keith has demonstrated his leadership skills and abilities in all of his assignments."

Addressing AFOSI personnel for the first time as their commander, Brig. Gen. Givens thanked Lt. Gen. Mueller for entrusting him.

"I consider this a distinct honor," he remarked. "Being a general is not about the rank. It's about what I can do for AFOSI and its people."

"The five points on these stars also remind me of the five most important people in my life," Givens said addressing his wife and four children.

As the AFOSI commander, Brig. Gen. Givens will now lead more than 3,300 people in their mission to identify, exploit and neutralize criminal, terrorist and intelligence threats to the Air Force, Department of Defense and U.S. government.