A specialist in defense analysis, military intelligence, national security, and international relations, Murrett teaches popular courses in the Maxwell School on the ā€œUS Intelligence Community: Governance and Practiceā€ and ā€œUS Defense Strategy, Military Posture, and Combat Operationsā€; leads capstone projects for the Veterans Administration, Rand, and IDA; and organizes legendary ā€œstaff ridesā€ for students to discuss military leadership and strategy at Fort Stanwix and Oriskany in Upstate New York and the Gettysburg, PA, National Military Park.

Before joining Syracuse University, Murrett was a career intelligence officer in the US Navy, serving in assignments throughout the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East through 34 years of duty, retiring as a Vice Admiral.Ā Murrett was the fourth Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from July 2006 through July 2010. Prior to his appointment, heĀ served as the Director of Naval Intelligence from April 2005 until July 2006.

Following his commissioning, Murrett was assigned as an afloat intelligence officer, including Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and western Pacific deployments aboard USS Kitty Hawk, USS America, and USS Independence.Ā He was assigned to Defense Intelligence College in 1980, then detailed to the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot as a watch stander and briefing officer for Navy civilian and military leaders. From 1983 to 1985, he served as Assistant Intelligence Officer for Commander, Second Fleet. In 1989, Murrett reported to Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, where he was assigned as Operational Intelligence Officer. From 1992 to 1995, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence for Commander, Carrier Group Eight, and deployed to the European and Central Command theaters.

Between 1995 and 1997, Murrett was Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence for Commander, Second Fleet, and served concurrently as N2 for NATOā€™s Striking Fleet Atlantic. From June 1997 until September 1998, he was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Staff as Executive Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence. He was then assigned as Director, Intelligence Directorate, Office of Naval Intelligence in September 1998. He assumed the duties of Commander, Atlantic Intelligence Commance August 12, 1999.Ā Murrett served as the Director for Intelligence, U.S. Joint Forces Command, from August, 2000 through January 2002. From February 2002 through March 2005, Murrett was assigned as the Vice Chair Director for Intelligence, on the Joint Staff.

Murrett received a B.A. in history from the University of Buffalo and a M.A. in government and strategic intelligence from Georgetown University and the Defense Intelligence College.

Professor O’Keefe is the 17th person in Syracuse University history to hold the title of University Professor. A longtime public administrator, national security expert and aerospace industry executive, Professor O’Keefe has served in several top leadership positions in the U.S. government, higher education and industry.

Along with the faculty appointments, Professor O’Keefe will play a leadership role in building Maxwell’s partnership with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), including research collaboration, expanding programming and executive education.

Professor O’Keefe’s expertise ranges over a variety of subjects like public management, national security policy and strategy, public finance and public budgeting, financial management, technology development and innovation management, executive leadership, looking ahead with military spending, threat of foreign affairs and terror, space and aviation, and procurement policies.

He is the former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Airbus Group Inc. Immediately prior to joining Airbus, O’Keefe served as a vice president of the General Electric Company following his service as chancellor of Louisiana State University.Ā  On four separate occasions, O’Keefe served as a presidential appointee. Prior to leading LSU, he was administrator of NASA. Earlier, he was deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget at the White House. He also served as secretary of the Navy, following service as comptroller and CFO of the Defense Department.Ā  He began his career after graduate studies at Maxwell as a member of the inaugural class of Presidential Management Intern program, and later joined the US Senate Appropriations Committee staff.