Allen T. Keys, LCDR (USN, Ret.), SPHR

I’m a Chicago native, a former naval aviator, and a people-operations leader with nearly three decades of service and training experience.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1992. After boot camp at Great Lakes, I began with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five (HC-5) in Guam and deployed aboard the USS SPICA and USNS MARS. Following Aviation Machinist’s Mate “A” School in Millington, I joined Strike Fighter Squadron 82 (VFA-82) in Jacksonville and deployed on USS AMERICA.

I transitioned to the Naval Reserve in 2000, and in 2001 was recalled to active duty at NAS Pensacola in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. Selected for the STA-21 commissioning program, I earned my commission in 2003. I completed flight training at NAS Whiting Field, received my Naval Aviator wings in 2005, finished MH-53 training with the Airborne Mine Countermeasures Weapons Systems Training School in Norfolk, and reported to HM-15 in Corpus Christi.

My shore tours reflect a focus on training and talent development: Officer-in-Charge at the Navy Absentee Collection and Information Center (Great Lakes), a transition into the Navy Human Resources community, leadership at Recruit Training Command, and promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 2014. I later served as Officer Programs Officer for Navy Recruiting District Michigan and then as Director of Training & Curriculum for Naval Service Training Command until retiring in 2021.

After retiring, I taught in Chicago Public Schools and later joined federal civilian service. During a furlough, I quietly launched an online venture “My Leadership Keys” to help people upskill, adapt, and lead with confidence.

Education & Credentials

  • M.S. Human Resource Management

  • B.S. Aviation Management

  • Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)

  • SHRM Artificial Intelligence + Human Ingenuity credentialed

Today, I combine flight-deck discipline with HR expertise to deliver practical, day-one skills in communication, leadership, and AI designed for anyone navigating career transitions or leveling up in their current role. I had no prior experience with AI; during my furlough I learned these tools from scratch and built simple, safe workflows that work in real jobs. My aim is to help you do the same quickly, confidently, and without jargon.