Karen R. Keesling
Encyclopedia
Karen Ruth Keesling was the United States
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)
from 1988 to 1989.
on July 9, 1946. She was educated at Arizona State University
, receiving a B.A.
in 1968 and an M.A.
in 1970.
Keesling was Assistant Dean of Women at the University of Kansas
for 1971-72. From 1972 to 1975, Keesling worked in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare as executive secretary of the Secretary
's Advisory Commission on Rights and Responsibilities of Women. From 1975 to 1977, she was Director of the White House
Office of Women. She was then a women's rights
analyst in the Library of Congress
's Civil Rights Division. She then attended the Georgetown University Law Center
, receiving her J.D.
in 1981. From 1979 to 1981, she was also a legislative aide of Sen.
Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R
–Kan.)
In 1981, Keesling joined the United States Department of the Air Force, serving as Deputy for Equal Opportunity and Director of Equal Employment Opportunity, 1981-82; as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower Resources and Military Personnel, 1982-83; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, and Installations, 1983-87; and as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Readiness Support, 1987-89.
On September 7, 1988, President of the United States
George H. W. Bush
nominated Keesling to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)
. She held this position until 1989.
In the early 1990s, she joined the United States Department of Labor
's, serving as Acting Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division
.
She moved to Sun City, Arizona
in 2000 and has practiced law there since.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is the title of a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force...
from 1988 to 1989.
Biography
Karen R. Keesling was born in Wichita, KansasWichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
on July 9, 1946. She was educated at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1968 and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1970.
Keesling was Assistant Dean of Women at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
for 1971-72. From 1972 to 1975, Keesling worked in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare as executive secretary of the Secretary
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with health matters. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet...
's Advisory Commission on Rights and Responsibilities of Women. From 1975 to 1977, she was Director of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Office of Women. She was then a women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
analyst in the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
's Civil Rights Division. She then attended the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
, receiving her J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1981. From 1979 to 1981, she was also a legislative aide of Sen.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
–Kan.)
In 1981, Keesling joined the United States Department of the Air Force, serving as Deputy for Equal Opportunity and Director of Equal Employment Opportunity, 1981-82; as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower Resources and Military Personnel, 1982-83; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, and Installations, 1983-87; and as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Readiness Support, 1987-89.
On September 7, 1988, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
nominated Keesling to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is the title of a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force...
. She held this position until 1989.
In the early 1990s, she joined the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
's, serving as Acting Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division
Wage and Hour Division
The Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor is the federal office responsible for enforcing federal labor laws. The Division was formed with the enactment of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938...
.
She moved to Sun City, Arizona
Sun City, Arizona
Sun City is a census-designated place and unincorporated town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The population was 38,309 at the 2000 census...
in 2000 and has practiced law there since.