Throughout his military career, Kevin served in multiple assignments, primarily in Special Operations Forces (SOF).
COCOA BEACH, FL, January 22, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kevin J. Key has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Leveraging more than two decades of excellence in military service, Mr. Key has earned distinction as an entrepreneur in the state of Florida and as a cattle rancher in Nevada with Key Ranches LLC. Since 2021, he has focused his efforts on managing and directing the ranch with his parents while engaging in Florida-based real estate ventures, including buying, restoring, and selling properties as well as beginning commercial development for the soon to be opened Cosmik Tiki family entertainment center in downtown Cocoa Beach. Additionally, he serves as a board member for Aurai Capital LLC and offers his expert services as a consultant.
Before starting his private career, Mr. Key served honorably in the U.S. Army starting as a private in the Nevada National Guard and completing his career as a senior active-duty Lieutenant Colonel. Throughout his military career, Kevin served in multiple assignments, primarily in Special Operations Forces (SOF). Kevin graduated Ranger School in 1999, and subsequently went on to serve in the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment where he deployed to Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq. In 2003, Kevin attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) to become a Green Beret. Following his graduation from SFQC, Kevin led a hand-selected team to Colombia in the ultimately successful Operation Willing Spirit, looking for the three hostages taken by the FARC terrorist group. Although Kevin's team's mission was in 2006, and the eventual recovery of the three US hostages was in 2008, many of his team's successes helped to pave the path to the ultimate repatriation of Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell. These three men were captured after their plane was shot down and were held for 5½ years in the jungles of Colombia. All three were employed by Northrop Grumman. Kevin also deployed several more times to Afghanistan and conducted several other operations throughout the world. He served in various capacities primarily in the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH). In 2016 then LTC Key was selected to command the Headquarters Battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division and assume a key role in our nation's immediate response force, specializing in joint forcible entry operations, deploying thousands of highly trained paratroopers within 18 hours anywhere in the world. Following battalion command in 2018, which included several overseas deployments, LTC Key decided to finish out his career as a strategic planner for SOCSOUTH until his retirement in January 2021. In recognition of his dedicated service, he was honored with the Ranger Tab, the Special Forces Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge, three Bronze Stars Awards and a Purple Heart Award.
While developing his military career, Mr. Key earned a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1998. Following this achievement, he attained a Master of Science in defense analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2012. The same year, he also gained an Associate of Arts in Spanish from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, later graduating from a Joint Professional Education Phase II program in military joint operations planning and strategy from National Defense University in 2015.
In the next few years, Mr. Key intends to continue his work in real estate development and investment, consulting, and working with his parents to lead their generational family ranch. Kevin is also particularly excited about the opening of Cosmik Tiki family entertainment center in downtown Cocoa Beach. He and his wife Noel are hopeful for a grand opening in time for Spring Break 2024. For more information on the Cosmik Tiki, please visit cosmiktiki.com.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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