Cat Kellogg
Trump's future special representative for Ukraine
Joseph Keith Kellogg Jr. is the future special representative for Ukraine in the second administration of US President-elect Donald Trump. He is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army.
Brief BiographyKeith Kellogg was born on May 12, 1944.
In 1961, he received a diploma from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Kellogg subsequently enlisted in the Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Santa Clara University as an infantry officer. While in the service, he earned a master's degree in international relations from the University of Kansas. Kellogg later went on to study upper-level management and diplomacy at the U.S. Army War College.
Kellogg subsequently served in Vietnam, where he qualified as a U.S. Army Special Forces officer. He later served as an advisor to the Cambodian Army Special Forces.
He also participated in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm during the 1990-1991 Gulf War.
Kellogg was subsequently selected to command Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR).
On September 9, 2001, Kellogg was at the Pentagon during the terrorist attack. Along with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, he assumed responsibility for the alternate command post at the Raven Rock Mountain complex.
After his retirement, he served briefly as the chief operating officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CTA) in Baghdad. Kellogg, who had a reputation as a "speedster" known for his ability to cut through red tape, was tasked with ensuring speed and discipline during Iraq's massive reconstruction process. After serving in the CTA, Kellogg was awarded the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal.
Kellogg then served as National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence and as Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of the U.S. National Security Council in the first Trump administration. He was also acting national security adviser following the resignation of Michael T. Flynn.
Kellogg and UkraineDuring the Trump-Ukraine scandal that led to the launch of Trump's impeachment proceedings (and further acquittal), Kellogg said he "heard nothing wrong or improper" in Trump's conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In June 2024, Kellogg and Fred Fleitz, who worked on Trump's National Security Council staff, presented a detailed peace plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The plan stipulated that the United States would inform Ukraine that it would only receive more U.S. military aid if it entered peace talks with Russia and that a cease-fire would be based on existing collision lines.
According to Fleitz, Trump has responded favorably to the plan.
Trump's second administrationOn November 28, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he intends to nominate Kellogg to serve as special envoy for Ukraine. Trump expressed his belief that together with Kellogg he could ensure "peace through strength".
Personal lifeKellogg has been married since 1980. His wife Paige is a former U.S. Army officer, a paratrooper who served during the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada.
Together they have three children.
