Keith Kellogg | |
|---|---|
 Kellogg in 2025 | |
| United States Special Envoy for Ukraine | |
| Assumed office March 15, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| United States Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia | |
| In office January 20, 2025 – March 15, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States | |
| In office April 27, 2018 – January 20, 2021 | |
| Vice President | Mike Pence |
| Preceded by | Andrea L. Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Nancy McEldowney |
| Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of theUnited States National Security Council | |
| In office January 20, 2017 – April 27, 2018 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Suzy George |
| Succeeded by | Frederick H. Fleitz |
| United States National Security Advisor | |
Acting | |
| In office February 13, 2017 – February 20, 2017 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Michael Flynn |
| Succeeded by | H. R. McMaster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Keith Kellogg Jr. (1944-05-12)May 12, 1944 (age 80) Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Paige Kellogg |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Santa Clara University (BA) University of Kansas (MS) United States Army War College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1967–2003 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | 82nd Airborne Division Special Operations Command Europe |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War Operation Just Cause Gulf War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2 with oneoak leaf cluster) Bronze Star Medal (5 with a"V" device) |
Joseph Keith Kellogg Jr. (born May 12, 1944) is an American diplomat and retiredlieutenant general in theUnited States Army.[1] He previously served as the National Security Advisor to Vice PresidentMike Pence, and as the Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of theUnited States National Security Council in thefirst Trump administration. He held the position ofNational Security Advisor on anacting basis following the resignation ofMichael Flynn. Kellogg currently serves asPresident Trump's special envoy forUkraine.[2]
Kellogg was born inDayton, Ohio, the son of Helen (Costello) and Joseph Keith Kellogg.[3] In 1961, he received his diploma fromLong Beach Polytechnic High School.[4] Kellogg was commissioned into the Army through theReserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) atSanta Clara University as anInfantryOfficer. During his time in service, Kellogg earned an M.S. in international affairs from theUniversity of Kansas. Kellogg later went on to study senior-level management and diplomacy at theUnited States Army War College.
During theVietnam War, he served in the101st Airborne Division[5] and, after qualifying as aU.S. Army Special Forces officer, as aspecial forces adviser to theCambodian Army.[6] It was during his time in Vietnam that Kellogg earned theSilver Star,Bronze Star with"V" Device, andAir Medal with "V" Device.
In 1985, then-LTC Kellogg commanded 1st Battalion,504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which became the first light infantry unit to rotate to theFort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) located in theMojave Desert. Kellogg later commanded3rd Brigade, 7th Infantry Division duringOperation Just Cause.
During the 1990–1991Gulf War, Kellogg served in the82nd Airborne Division, first aschief of staff and then as assistant commander. Kellogg subsequently served as the Commander ofSpecial Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) and then took command of the82nd Airborne Division in 1996.
Kellogg was alieutenant general serving as theJoint Staff's J6 (Director of Command, Control, Communications, and Computers) inthe Pentagon during theattacks on September 11, 2001. Following the crash ofAmerican Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, Kellogg assumed responsibility of the alternate command post atRaven Rock Mountain Complex withUnited States Deputy Secretary of DefensePaul Wolfowitz.[citation needed] He retired from the Army in 2003.
Following Kellogg's retirement from active duty, he joinedOracle Corporation as an adviser to its homeland security division,[7] but from December 2003 to 2004, he held a leading position in theCoalition Provisional Authority (CPA).[8][6][9] Kellogg served inBaghdad as Chief Operating Officer for the CPA, the transition government ofIraq after the2003 U.S.-led invasion and thedisbanding of the Iraqi Army.[10] During this time, Kellogg, with a reputation as an "expediter" known for cutting through red tape, was tasked with ensuring speed and discipline during the massive reconstruction process.[11] Following his service with the CPA, Kellogg was awarded theDepartment of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
He held positions withCACI International Inc. and laterCubic Corporation starting in January 2005.[12]
From 2021 until 2025 he was chairman of the Center for a New American Security atAmerica First Policy Institute.[13]
TheDonald Trump 2016 presidential campaign named Kellogg a foreign policy advisor in March 2016.[14] Trump put Kellogg in charge of thepresidential transition agency action team for defense.[15] On December 15, 2016, President-electDonald Trump announced plans to appoint Kellogg as Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary of theUnited States National Security Council.[16]
On February 13, 2017, following the resignation ofMichael Flynn, Kellogg became the ActingNational Security Advisor until Trump appointed a permanent replacement.[17][1] President Trump interviewed Kellogg and three others,[18][19] ultimately selectingH. R. McMaster.[20]
In April 2018, Vice PresidentMike Pence chose Kellogg to serve as his national security advisor.[21][22][23] According to the White House, Kellogg would continue to serve as an assistant to Trump.[24][25]
During theTrump–Ukraine scandal, which led to Trump's impeachment (and subsequent acquittal), Kellogg said he "heard nothing wrong or improper" in Trump's call with the Ukrainian president.[26]
Kellogg spoke at the2020 Republican National Convention on August 26, 2020.[27]
Kellogg was with Trump in the White House as theJanuary 6 United States Capitol attack occurred and defended Pence's decision not to leave the Capitol. While theSecret Service was attempting to get Pence to a safer place, Pence insisted on staying. Kellogg reportedly told then-White House Deputy Chief of Staff for OperationsAnthony Ornato, formerly with the Secret Service, why Pence would not evacuate. "You can't do that, Tony. Leave him where he's at. He's got a job to do. I know you guys too well. You'll fly him to Alaska if you have a chance. Don't do it." Kellogg made it clear that Pence would stay, even if he needed to remain all night.[28] Kellogg testified under oath to theUnited States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack in December 2021 that the president's staff encouraged the president to take immediate action to quell the unrest but that he refused.[29][30]
In June 2024, Kellogg andFrederick H. Fleitz, who had also served on Trump's National Security Council staff, presented Trump with a detailedpeace plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine.[31] The plan proposes a ceasefire on the current front lines, forcing both Russia and Ukraine into peace talks, and continuedmilitary aid to Ukraine if it agrees to a ceasefire and peace talks. If Russia did not also agree to a ceasefire and peace talks, the United States would increase arms supplies to Ukraine. Ukraine would not have to formally cede theoccupied and annexed territories to Russia, but would postpone its plans for NATO membership for a longer period of time, and the territories currently under Russian occupation would remain underde facto Russian control. Kellogg and Fleitz said their main concern is that the war has devolved intoattrition warfare that could wipe out an entire generation of young men in both countries.[32][33]
In November 2024, President-elect Trump selected Kellogg to be his special envoy forUkraine andRussia.[2] Kellogg's nomination was proposed by Republican Party hawks because of his support for Ukraine.[34]
Politico reported that several of his actions caused him to lose the confidence of the White House in February 2025. People close to Donald Trump criticized him for hiring former State Department spokeswomanHeather Nauert as an advisor, as she was considered too favorable to Ukraine. Keith Kellogg was excluded from a meeting with Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov inSaudi Arabia on February 18, 2025. The White House also criticized him for not objecting to Ukrainian leaders' criticism of the Trump administration during a meeting withVolodymyr Zelenskyy inKyiv at the same time. The White House ordered Kellogg to cancel a press conference scheduled for after the meeting.[34]
On March 15, his role was limited to Special Envoy for Ukraine after Russian complaints.[35]
Kellogg married his wife, Paige, in 1980. She is a former U.S. Army officer and paratrooper who served during the 1983U.S. invasion of Grenada.[6] Together, they have three children.
Kellogg is the second-oldest of four children. His older brother,Mike Kellogg, is a former professionalfootball player and Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge. His sister, Kathy, is a former actress who is now aclinical psychologist. His younger brother, Jeff, is a formercity councilman of Long Beach, California, served as president of theLong Beach Community College District Board of Trustees, and now works for theCalifornia Community Colleges system.[36][37]
Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
First Lieutenant (Infantry) Joseph Keith Kellogg, United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action while serving with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation EAGLE THRUST in the Republic of Vietnam. During an air assault, Lieutenant Kellogg pulled a wounded man from a fire line, then went on to attack an enemy bunker system with a machine gun. Running down the line, he destroyed five enemy bunkers with hand grenades. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Action Date: Vietnam WarService: ArmyDivision: 101st Airborne Division
Kellogg's major decorations and badges include:[38]
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| Preceded by | United States National Security Advisor Acting 2017 | Succeeded by |
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