An Cosantóir

15 this tour saw the withdrawal of the Israeli Army from South Lebanon and a change to the security atmosphere in the region. After that tour of duty, he was posted to the Infantry School in the Military College as a senior instructor. While there, he completed his Command and Staff course and graduated with a Masters in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies. Then in 2003 Sean was sent overseas again to the Middle East with UNTSO (the United Nations Trace Supervision Organisation) as Military Assistance to the Head of Mission (Major General Karl Dodd). He was stationed in the UN HQ in Jerusalem before transferring to Beirut as Deputy Head of the UN Liaison Office. "It was a very interesting time there", Sean says, "I was there when ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated by a massive bomb. However, this led to considerable political changes in Lebanon including the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country." Interestingly, Sean had his family – wife Fiona, daughter Aine and son Jack - with him in Beirut. "They were never really in any danger and I believe it was a rewarding experience for all of us, and important for the children in particular. They were in an international school and developed friendships with people from all over the world, some of which are still lasting to this day." He added: "They say travel broadens the mind and today Aine is working as a pharmacist in Vancouver, Canada, and Jack works as a biomedical engineer in London." On return to Ireland, Sean was again posted to the Military College as an instructor and then appointed Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Major General Pat Nash in Defence Forces HQ in Dublin, later moving to the EU Operations Desk there. Then came something he had been seeking. "I was appointed Commanding Officer 2nd Cavalry Squadron, my old unit. It was a great honour and something that I had sought for a long time." While there Sean AN COSANTOIR - COL SEAN O'KEEFFE was deployed to Argentina with the 2nd Armoured Brigade Argentinian Army for a three-week period. On promotion to Lt Col, he was posted as Military Assistant to the Italian Commander of the EU Mission to Bosnia, based in Sarajevo. "It was fascinating to be at the General's side for crucial meetings. It was an EU mission so different from many UN deployments and you were now dealing largely with European troops and staff." On return, Sean was appointed Operations Officer with the 2nd Brigade in Dublin and was heavily involved in coordinating security operations for the visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama! A further interesting career move would come when Sean was transferred to the planning office in Defence Forces Operations. "It gave me time to look forward, to look at how the Defence Forces would be shaped for the future." After three-and-a-half years there, he was promoted to Colonel and appointed Director of Transport. Although based in McKee Barracks in Dublin, it often brought him back to the vehicle workshops in the Curragh where he had served in his early years. More significantly, this appointment provided the opportunity to make a significant impact on the transport capability of the Defence Forces, for both the armoured and non-armoured fleets. At the end of that, Sean was looking ahead to retirement at 60. "I thought it would be nice to get one more overseas posting" and that came when he was sent to Brussels as Deputy Military Representative of Ireland to the European Union. "It was the time of Brexit and I witnessed the EU flag being taken down outside the British Embassy." Now enjoying his retirement at home in Naas, Co Kildare, Sean can indulge his passion for music as a member of the Baldonnel Singers and Naas Musical Society. Reflecting on his career, he is happy to have lived "a life less ordinary". Mowag APC Midlife Extension and Upgrade Project Team visit to Mowag facilities in Kreuzlingen Switzerland. The photo includes DF and DoD team members, with Irish Agents IFC and Mowag Representatives. (December 2014) On exercise with the Argentinian 2nd Armoured Brigade, Parana, Argentina, September 2008

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