Sean O’Keefe was sworn in as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on September 25, 2025. In this role, Mr. O’Keefe serves as the primary assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in formulating, coordinating, and integrating policy for force readiness; force management; health affairs; National Guard and Reserve Component affairs; education and training; and military and civilian personnel requirements and management to include morale, welfare, recreation, and quality of life matters.

Most recently, Mr. O’Keefe served as a professional staff member for the Senate Armed Services Committee where he was responsible for a portfolio that included military and civilian personnel policy, military end strength, compensation, the military health system, National Guard policy, and reserve matters. Prior to joining the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mr. O’Keefe worked as a senior policy analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC). At BPC, he was the principal staffer supporting a commission focused on modernizing military personnel policies. He authored reports on military and civilian personnel policy, military healthcare, military families, readiness, and compensation.

From 2010 to 2016, Mr. O’Keefe served as an active-duty Air Force financial management officer.

Mr. O’Keefe is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned a master’s degree from the George Washington University. He grew up in Portland, Oregon.n