Cmdr. Keith Tate
Chief of Staff, AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON (PHIBRON) EIGHT
02 June 2023
Commander Keith Tate received his commission from Virginia Military Institute in May of 2004. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from VMI, as well as a Master of Science degree in National Defense and Security from the Naval War College. He is an Amphibious Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI), and currently serves as the Chief Staff Officer at Amphibious Squadron EIGHT.
Commander Tate has served at sea as Operations Officer in USS ANCHORAGE (LPD 23), Combat Systems Officer in USS SAN ANTONIO (LPD 17), Training Officer in USS TRUXTUN (DDG 103), and First Division Officer in USS PONCE (LPD 15) During these tours, he completed five middle-eastern deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch, and New Dawn.
Ashore, he has served as Requirements and Resources Branch Head for the Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) Amphibious Warfare (AMW) Division where he and his team refined and published the 2017 and 2018 AMW Integrated Priorities Capabilities List.
In October 2019, Commander Tate reported aboard USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) as Executive Officer and assumed command in March 2021.
Commander Tate’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), the Battle “E” Ribbon (three awards) and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (six awards), as well as various unit and campaign awards.