# Keith Davids

Keith Bently Davids (born 1968) is a retired American United States Navy special warfare officer with the rank of rear admiral. He served as the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command from 2022 to 2024. He was the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command South, United States Southern Command from 2020 to 2022. Previously, he served as director of the White House Military Office during the first presidency of Donald Trump. Earlier in his career, he was commanding officer of the Naval Special Warfare Center and SEAL Team One.

## Early life and education

Davids was born and raised in Miami, Florida. After attending private schools, he graduated from Coral Gables Senior High School in Coral Gables, Florida. Davids graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990. He later went on to receive a Master of Science in manpower systems analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1998 and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College in 2012.

## Naval career

After his commission as an ensign in the United States Navy, he received orders to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. He graduated BUD/S class 177 in 1991. Following SEAL Tactical Training (STT) and completion of six month probationary period, he received the 1130 designator as a Naval Special Warfare Officer, entitled to wear the Special Warfare insignia also known as "SEAL Trident". As a Navy SEAL officer, Davids served as an assistant platoon commander and platoon commander for SEAL Team Two. Davids volunteered for assignment to Naval Special Warfare Development Group at Damneck, Virginia and completed a specialized selection and training course in 1995 where he served as element leader and squadron operations officer. Davids was promoted to Captain in September 2011.
Davids served numerous command and staff assignments including executive officer of SEAL Team Seven; aide-de-camp for Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet; military aide to the President of the United States; commanding officer of SEAL Team One, deputy commander of Naval Special Warfare Group Three; director of Operations at Naval Special Warfare Command; commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Center and commander of Special Operations Command South, USSOUTHCOM from 2021 to 2023. Davids was selected to serve as the director of the White House Military Office on September 6, 2017.

## Awards and decorations

| Badge | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia | Special Warfare insignia |
| 1st row | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal |
| 2nd row | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and 1 5⁄16 inch star | Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and 1 5⁄16 inch star | Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and 1 5⁄16 inch star | Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and 1 5⁄16 inch star | Meritorious Service Medal | Meritorious Service Medal | Meritorious Service Medal | Meritorious Service Medal |
| 3rd row | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Joint Service Achievement Medal | Joint Service Achievement Medal | Joint Service Achievement Medal | Joint Service Achievement Medal |
| 4th row | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Combat Action Ribbon with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Combat Action Ribbon with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Combat Action Ribbon with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Combat Action Ribbon with 1 5⁄16 inch star | Navy Presidential Unit Citation | Navy Presidential Unit Citation | Navy Presidential Unit Citation | Navy Presidential Unit Citation |
| 5th row | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Expeditionary Medal | Navy Expeditionary Medal | Navy Expeditionary Medal | Navy Expeditionary Medal |
| 6th row | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | Southwest Asia Service Medal | Southwest Asia Service Medal | Southwest Asia Service Medal | Southwest Asia Service Medal | Afghanistan Campaign Medal | Afghanistan Campaign Medal | Afghanistan Campaign Medal | Afghanistan Campaign Medal |
| 7th row | Iraq Campaign Medal | Iraq Campaign Medal | Iraq Campaign Medal | Iraq Campaign Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| 8th row | Armed Forces Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 bronze Campaign stars | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 bronze Campaign stars | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 bronze Campaign stars | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 bronze Campaign stars |
| 9th row | NATO Medal for Ex-Yugoslavia | NATO Medal for Ex-Yugoslavia | NATO Medal for Ex-Yugoslavia | NATO Medal for Ex-Yugoslavia | Marksmanship Medal for Rifle Expert | Marksmanship Medal for Rifle Expert | Marksmanship Medal for Rifle Expert | Marksmanship Medal for Rifle Expert | Marksmanship Medal for Pistol Expert | Marksmanship Medal for Pistol Expert | Marksmanship Medal for Pistol Expert | Marksmanship Medal for Pistol Expert |
| Badge | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia |
| Badge | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia | U.S. Navy Command at Sea insignia |
| Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge | Presidential Service Badge |

## Personal life

Davids and his wife, Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids, have twin sons, Kai and Kiernan Davids.