Captain Timothy Robert O'Keefe, USN (Ret)

Captain Timothy R. O'Keefe, USN  This snapshot taken during a party at his home in Annandale, VA in the late 80's, captures some of the twinkle in his eye.  He knew more jokes at tip of his tongue than any person I ever met.  I also learned that he had undertaken extraordinarily dangerous missions during the Vietnam War which came down to hand-to-hand combat.  Although badly wounded, and at one point left for dead, Tim survived to come home and head up the research and development program that produced the U.S. Navy's Surface Combatants of the 21st Century.

Captain Tim O’Keefe, as director of the Ship Characteristics and Improvement Board Staff for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Surface Warfare), was the “brains and driving energy” for Navy efforts to design entirely new classes of combatant ships for service in the 21st century.

Surface Combatants of the 21st Century—Group MIKE, was the center piece of what the Navy called “Revolution at Sea”—a group of studies that identified and defined the design criteria used to construct today’s highly capable surface warships.

Tim O’Keefe was absolutely one of the most intelligent individuals I’ve ever met.

I served on his staff twice with BUPERS orders, but in fact, once I served with him, I was his friend and admirer for the rest of his life.

Tim's intellect, coupled with his combat experience, much of which was classified and could not be shared in any but the broadest terms, gave him the ability to lead an eclectic team that evaluated numerous emerging technologies and incorporated them into ship designs that protect America today.

It was challenging, to say the least. It was exciting to be a part of such an important process. And yet, with all the pressures and conflicting points of view, Keefe would break the tension with one of his innumerable jokes and quips. I never met anyone who knew as many jokes as Tim O’Keefe and had them ready for “instant recall.”

When things got tense and “pressurized,” Tim knew just when and what to say to get a laugh, break the impasse, and move the process forward.

Tim O’Keefe was a highly decorated combat veteran whose bravery and sacrifice were largely unknown because so much of what he did was and is, classified. He was a hero to his staff and associates based on what we saw of his vision and leadership to take the surface Navy into the 21st century. Only much later did we come to know something of what he had accomplished during combat operations far removed from those usually seen in a “surface warrior.”

We were amazed to learn, only after he had retired, that he had been awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary bravery behind enemy lines in Southeast Asia, and had been severely wounded several times.

A decorated military combat veteran, Captain Timothy O’Keefe of Alpharetta, GA, died November 4, 2002 at the age of 68.

This is the obituary I prepared for him at the time. It barely scratches the surface of his contributions to the Navy and the Defense Department. And, of course, it could not capture any of the deep loss all of us who knew him felt at his premature death, probably of complications from toxic chemicals to which he was exposed during his Vietnam "boots on the ground" service.

Born February 22, 1934 in Lampasas, TX to Timothy Robert and Flossie Mae O’Keefe. He was the first boy to work at Storm’s.

Captain O’Keefe was a graduate of Saint Edwards University, North Texas University, and George Washington University.

He received his Navy commission in 1956.

During his 31 years of military service, Captain O’Keefe was assigned to the USS Estes, Hawaiian Sea Frontier, USS Columbus, USS Uhlman, studies at Defense Intelligence School, Assistant Naval Attache to the US Embassy in Canberra, Australia, USS Ozbourn, Instructor at Defense Intelligence School, Commanding Officer of the USS Barbery, attended National War College, Naval Intelligence, Commanding officer of the William H. Standley and his final duty as Director, Ship Characteristics and Improvement Board Staff at the Pentagon.

During this time Captain O’Keefe directed Chief of Naval Operations mandated study, “Surface Combatants of the 21st Century”—Group Mike Study, where he lead the design of an entire new family of Surface Combatants and Systems for service in the 21st Century.

After his military retirement, Captain O’Keefe was a military consultant.

The Barbara Bush Point of Light was awarded to Captain O’Keefe along with the Navy Cross, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Joint Service Commendation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, numerous Purple Hearts and other medals.

Captain O’Keefe married Martha Ann McCormick, also a Lampasas, Texas native, December 26, 1957. Their marriage of 44 years was a lovely, fulfilling, whirlwind of duty stations throughout the USA and Australia.

Alpharetta became home to Tim and Martha as they quickly became involved at St. David’s Episcopal Church, the Roswell Rotary Club, the Roswell Historical Society.

Captain O’Keefe was the current Vice President of the Alpharetta Kiwanis.

Survivors include his wife, Martha O’Keefe of Alpharetta; his daughter, Elise, and son-in-law, Dan Humphrey of Springfield, VA; daughter, Susan, son-in-law, Bill Creeden of Marietta, GA; daughter, Leah, and son-in-law, Dewitt Anderson of Wimberley, TX. He was also the proud grandfather of seven grandchildren.

Tim was buried in Watson Cemetery in his beloved Lampasas, Texas with full military honors.