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Justice, Fairness, Inclusion, and Performance.

Sean O'Keefe

MEMBER SINCE: 1996

Sean O'Keefe profile headshot

Sean O’Keefe has had a distinguished and multifaceted career. He currently holds the Howard G. and S. Louise Phanstiel Chair in Strategic Management and Leadership at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. Additionally, he serves as a Distinguished Senior Advisor (Non-Resident) at the Center for Strategic & International Studies.

Mr. O’Keefe’s career includes significant leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EADS North America and a Vice President at General Electric Company. In academia, he served as Chancellor of Louisiana State University.

In government, Mr. O’Keefe held several high-profile positions. He was the Administrator of NASA, Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and Secretary of the Navy. He also served as the Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Defense and was the Staff Director for the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Mr. O’Keefe’s academic contributions are notable as well. He held the Louis A. Bantle Chair in Business and Government Policy at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He also worked at Pennsylvania State University as the Special Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Research, Dean of the Graduate School, and Professor of Business Administration.

History of Employment

Position
Division
Organization
Start
End
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Airbus Group, Inc.
2009
2015
Vice President
General Electric Company
2008
2009
Chancellor
Louisiana State University
2005
2008
Administrator
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2001
2005
Deputy Director
U.S. Office of Management and Budget
2001
2001
Louis A. Bantle Chair in Business and Government Policy
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Syracuse University
1996
2001
Special Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Research Dean of Graduate School, Professor of Business Administration
Dean of Graduate School, Professor of Business Administration
Pennsylvania State University
1993
1996
Secretary of the Navy
Department of the Navy
1992
1993
Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer
U.S. Department of Defense
1989
1992
Staff Director
Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
U.S. Senate
1981
1989
PMI
Budget Analyst
Naval Sea Systems Command
1978
1981
Howard G. and S. Louise Phanstiel Chair in Strategic Management and Leadership
axwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Syracuse University
2015
Distinguished Senior Advisor (Non-Resident)
Center for Strategic & International Studies
2015
Primary Policy Areas

Budget and Finance, Defense, Ethics, Government Operations/Innovation, National Security

Primary Sector of Expertise

Academic

Primary Functions

Academic Faculty, Budgeting and Finance, Human Capital, Risk Management, Strategic Planning