Keith L. Jackson

Business/Organization Represented:
Office of the Governor of Kentucky

In February 2024, Keith Jackson was appointed Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. Immediately prior to stepping into this leadership role, Jackson served as the cabinet’s deputy secretary. He understands the cabinet’s critical role in creating safer communities for all and works to ensure the safety and security of Kentucky communities through an approach centered on protecting citizens, restoring victims, and reforming wrongdoers – all in a focused environment where everything is measured for accountability and performance.

Prior to joining the cabinet, Secretary Jackson served as the commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs where he was the Governor’s representative and advisor on all veterans-related matters and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Department’s Benefits Branch, four Veteran Nursing Homes, five State Veteran Cemeteries, Employment Services Program, Homeless Veterans Program and Women Veterans Program.

During his 27-year career in the U.S. Army Reserves, Secretary Jackson served in numerous capacities ranging from platoon leader up to Battalion Command. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses at Ft Knox, KY; Command and General Staff College, Ft Leavenworth, KS; and the Multifunctional Logistics Course at Ft Lee, VA. He served in Iraq in 2006 as the Operations Officer of the 352nd Combat Service Battalion, which conducted combat logistic patrols. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Combat Action Badge. In 2008, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and selected as Battalion Commander of the 373rd Quartermaster Battalion.

In addition to his military service, he began his municipal and public service career in January 1991 with the Lexington Fire Department. His first assignment was as a Firefighter with Engine Company 9. In 1993, he was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic and assigned to Emergency Care 6. Jackson was promoted to Lieutenant in 2000, Captain in 2002, and Major in 2010 when he became the Hazardous Material Team leader for the Department. In 2011, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Administration, and then Interim Chief that same year. In June 2012, Chief Jackson made history by becoming the first African American appointed Chief of the Lexington Division of Fire and Emergency Services. In this capacity, he managed a 56-million-dollar budget, 540 Firefighters and 23 stations.

 

Secretary Jackson earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications and received his commission from the University of Kentucky in 1987.