LCol Rodney Keller joined the Canadian Forces in 1985 under the Regular Officer Training Program. After graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, ON with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree (Civil) in 1989 he completed his young officer training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, BC.
LCol Keller’s first posting was to 22 Field Squadron in Gagetown, NB as the Assistant Operations Officer and then 2 (Field) Tp commander from 1990-1992. After qualifying as a unit Diving Officer and conducting an operational minefield reconnaissance in Cyprus, LCol Keller was posted to 22 (Close Support) Engineer Regiment in Perham Down, England as the Operations Officer of 8 (Armoured) Engineer Squadron. After experiencing life as a member of NATO forces in Europe immediately after the end of the Cold War, he was posted to 8 Field Engineering Regiment (Militia) Edmonton, AB in 1994 as their Operations Officer and later the Deputy Commanding Officer.
LCol Keller was the posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) in the spring of 1997 to join 12 Field Squadron on NATO operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina as the Squadron Second-in-Command. Onreturning to Canada he was appointed to the position of Regimental Operations Officer and attended both the Canadian Forces Land Staff course and the Canadian Forces Land Command and Staff course. LCol Keller was promoted to Major in 2000 and was posted to the CF Language School in Edmonton as a student.
In 2001, LCol Keller assumed command of 12 Field Squadron and later, 18 Administration Squadron at 1 CER. During his second tour with 1 CER, LCol Keller had the great privilege to command an Engineer Squadron on Operation APOLLO in Afghanistan as part of the 3 PPCLI Battle Group.
From 2004-2006, LCol Keller was the Army Engineer career manager and worked out of the Director General Military Careers office in Ottawa, ON. LCol Keller attended the Joint Command and Staff Programme 33 at Canadian Forces College Toronto, ON from 2006 – 2007 where he completed a Masters degree in Defence Studies. On promotion, he was appointed as the Area Engineer of Land Forces Western Area. In 2009, he assumed command of Canadian Forces Base Suffield.
LCol Keller is married to Laura (nee Sharpe) of Guelph, ON and they have three children Gabriel (13), Hannah (11) and Paige (8).