2026 Veterans Appreciation Day

2026 VAD Logo coming soon.

Thursday, April 24 2026

Guest Speaker(s) - Technical Sergeant Joe O’Keefe (Ret.) - Combat Controller* (CCT)

Sergeant O’Keefe joined the Air Force in 1983, and transitioned into the combat controller (CCT*) field in 1987, because he "wanted to do more". By the time of the September 11 attacks in 2001, he had 18 years of service in the military.

On December 3, 2001, less than three months after 9/11, Sergeant O’Keefe was part of a CIA team tasked with locating Osama bin Laden. Based on reports placing the Al Qaeda leader in Tora Bora, O’Keefe, two CIA officers and a Delta Force operator were dispatched to perform initial reconnaissance.

Clad in Afghan garb and hats, and wielding AK-47s, they climbed the mountain through the thin, cold air to higher ground where they set up an observation post. From there, the team could see caves, trenches, spider holes, and bunkers dotting the Milawa Valley of the White Mountains - and hundreds of Al Queda fighters.

Executing direct orders from President Bush, Sergeant O’Keefe coordinated an unprecedented aerial onslaught against the Al Qaeda forces. Over five grueling days, he directed the delivery of 688,000 pounds of explosives (see graphic below), utilizing a diverse arsenal that spanned from B-1 and B-52 heavy bombers to F-series fighters and Predator drones. The aircraft were equipped with precision-guided JDAMs, Maverick missiles, 500-pound Mark 82 bombs, 20mm cannons, and a 15,000-pound BLU-82, one of the largest conventional weapons ever used. He organized the airspace by stacking jets at 1,000-foot intervals, eventually reaching 21 levels high. Unfortunately, lacking resources to secure the exit routes, bin Laden was able to escape. He was eventually found and killed by U.S. special operations forces on May 2, 2011, almost 10 years later.

Sergeant O’Keefe retired in 2004 with a distinguished military career that earned him several commendations, including the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, reflecting his dedication to national security and excellence in service. Mr. Joe O’Keefe currently serves as the Deputy Regional Director for Region 8 at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

* Combat Controllers are highly specialized Airmen trained in a wide range of skills, including scuba, parachuting, and snowmobiling, as well as being FAA-certified air traffic controllers to establish air control and provide combat support on missions all over the globe. Acting as a one-man attachment to other special forces teams, the initial training 97-week pipeline for an Air Force Special Tactics Squadron Combat Controller costs twice as much time and sweat as does the journey to become a Navy SEAL or Delta operator.

(Coming Post Event)

Event Photos

Mary Hoffman - Facebook / Walgreens

Fred Russel's - Google pics

Event Videos

YouTube Video of Event

WLWT report

WXIX report