Born in Sussex and raised in Havelock NB, he grew up on a farm and learned to improvise, make do, and fix things with haywire. Following high school graduation in 1975, he took a two year Civil Engineering Technology course at the New Brunswick Institute of Technology in Moncton. During this time, on 19 Jan 1976, he enrolled in the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) Militia as a crewman.
A competitive shooter, he participated twice as a member of the Militia Area Atlantic rifle team, placing third in Canada as an individual marksman. In September 1980 he started two years full-time service as a driver for the Combat Arms Schools at CFB Gagetown.
On 01 Sept 1982, when the Engineers were suffering from a dearth of officers, he transferred into the regular force at 22 Field Sqn as a direct entry Military Engineer Officer. Following basic and classification training in Chilliwack, he served as Production and Requirements officer at CFB Cornwallis, Production and Requirements officer at CFB North Bay, CE Administration Officer at CFB Ottawa (Uplands), SCEO at CFS Shelburne, Staff Officer Environment at Maritime Command Headquarters Halifax, and CE Officer (Dockyard).
It was in Halifax that Capt Keith was offered Force reduction incentive to leave the Forces, but declined. In April 1997, he deployed to Bosnia as contingent commander of Roto 0 OP NOBLE, supporting the United Nations Mine Action Centre, for a nine-month tour. Upon return he was posted to CFSME as it moved to Gagetown, serving as CETS and then CFSME Ops O. In 2002 he was posted to UNDOF, Camp Faouar, Syria for a year, and then to 1 ESU Moncton. While in Moncton he deployed to Cuba and Afghanistan (twice). In 2006, Capt Keith was posted to OP CALUMET, Multi-National Force and Observers, Sinai, Egypt and spent another year in the desert. His final year in the regular force was as Construction Engineer Standards Officer at CFSME.
The Engineers are still in need, so Capt Keith is transferring back to the primary reserve to again join 1 ESU Moncton, until he takes off the uniform for good.