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Ken Keen Interview

DRLA Executive Director Ky Luu interviews General P.K.(Ken) Keen, the Military Deputy Commander at U.S. Southern Command who led U.S. Southern Command's Joint Task Force Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Ken Keen Photo  General P.K.(Ken) Keen, the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command

 

Lieutenant General P. K. (Ken) Keen is the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command. Currently, Keen is second-in-command of one of ten unified commands under the Department of Defense. Southern Command conducts military operations and promotes security cooperation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Recently, Keen served as the Commander, Joint Task Force Haiti during Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE. As Commander of all U.S. forces in Haiti, Keen led the largest U.S. military operation in support of foreign natural disaster.

Ky Luu's Interview Questions:

1. General, thank you very much for speaking with us today. You were on the ground in Haiti when the earthquake struck. And, just how did you deal with the aftermath? I mean, how did you address some of the challenges and carryout your program? What were some of the biggest obstacles that you immediately had to address? Hear Ken Keen's Response

2. Obviously everybody knows that the earthquake was catastrophic here, but from kind of a planning scenario here for Southern Command and for your operations in the first 30 days, can you kind of walk us through in terms of some of the key priority activities that from your perspective needed to be in place in order for obviously relief to flow to the impacted citizens? Hear Ken Keen's Response

3. Obviously the great demand that was as a result of the earthquake, we saw a huge influx of partners, international partners, NGOs and others there - how difficult was it in terms of the coordination structure to be able to get things accomplished - to move supplies from point A to B for planning purposes? Hear Ken Keen's Response

4. You know we've heard many reports from the first responders, some of the international search and rescue teams that were deployed and how they were affected by what they saw in the earthquake, and you having been on the ground and having to assume this leadership position, how did you do it, and what – what allowed you to be able to move forward, what helped you? Hear Ken Keen's Response

5. In Haiti, what do you see that is unfolding in the immediate future here? I mean, what do we need to do to help the Haitian people and the Haitian government not only survive this earthquake, but obviously thrive and recover and move on the road towards development? Hear Ken Keen's Response

6. General, you are the military deputy commander here in Southern Command, and looking at the future in your region with the increasing risk of vulnerability, what is the role of Southern Command with regard to humanitarian assistance? Hear Ken Keen's Response

7. One last question general, who are your heroes and why? Hear Ken Keen's Response

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