Keith Walawender

Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Keith Walawender medically retired from the US military in 2014 after sustaining a serious injury during a combat operation.

Before retiring, Chief Walawender served 15 years in the Special Operations community, including five years at SEAL Team TWO and over eight years at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. His tenure included ten deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and numerous other missions worldwide. Chief Walawender’s many combat commendations include the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals with combat valor, two Joint Service Commendation Medals with combat valor, three Presidential Unit Citations, and numerous other joint and individual awards.

Currently, Mr. Walawender serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Tomahawk Strategic Solutions, which he founded with Ret. Chief Mike Biller to help serve those who are currently serving and to help corporate leaders provide safer and more secure environments for their employees and communities. Mr. Walawender serves on the board for the Economic Crime and Cybersecurity Institute of Utica College. Mr. Walawender is a native of Dunkirk, New York. He enlisted in the US Navy in August of 1999 and graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in October of 2000.