Keith Bannach, Esq., Major, Retired U.S.M.C.
Keith Bannach serves as a board member of Project Meridian Foundation.
Mr. Bannach is a plank-holder for the newly created Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which is tasked by Congress to oversee the overall effectiveness of, and to identify and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of the U.S. funds going toward American “reconstruction” efforts in Afghanistan. He was hand-picked by his former Marine Corps battalion commander, Major General Arnold Fields, USMC (Ret.), the initial Presidential appointed SIGAR, to assist him establish functional offices in both Washington, DC, and Afghanistan. Mr. Bannach served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Support, and performed a variety of functions as this oversight office grew to over 130 people in two years. One of these duties included serving with the agency’s Strategic Assessment and Executive Liaison directorates, which performed an agency wide strategic risk assessment analysis, and there from developed goals and metrics, both at the agency and individual directorate levels in an effort to better meet SIGAR’s Congressional and Presidential expectations in Afghanistan.
Mr. Bannach graduated from the United States Naval Academy, where he was Company Commander for the Honor Company for his class year. He then served on active duty as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps. He participated in combat operations as a weapons platoon commander, Kilo Company, 3d Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, during Operation Just Cause , in the Republic of Panama, then as the Aide de Camp for the Commanding General, 2nd Marine Division, during Operations Desert Storm/Shield . He also served as the Marine Corps Officer Selection Officer, Recruiting Station New Jersey. While in the Marine Corps reserve, he served as both the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer, Headquarters Company, 6th Motor Transport Battalion, Red Bank, N.J.
After active duty, Mr. Bannach attended law school and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison – Law School. He was selected for one year judicial clerkship following law school for the Hon. Lawrence M. Lawson, the Assignment Judge, Monmouth Vicinage, Superior Court of New Jersey, located in Freehold, New Jersey. Mr. Bannach practiced law as a member of the litigation and legal solution teams for several New Jersey law firms. His key practice areas include: construction law, architect and engineer / professional malpractice defense, insurance defense, employment discrimination, products liability, contract, entertainment, insurance defense, software infringement, and corporate disputes. He also served as the Assistant Municipal Prosecutor in the New Jersey municipalities of Freehold Township, Manalapan, Red Bank, and Little Silver.
Mr. Bannach has served as a member of various community organizations:
- Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation: Jersey Shore Golf Tournament, Board of Directors, 1999 – 2009.
- Boy Scouts of America, Battleground District Committee member, 2000- 2001.
- Legal Resource Council, New Jersey Family Policy Council
- Steering Committee Member, Sept. 1998 – 2005
- Membership Committee May 1999 – 2005
- Family research Council, Washington, DC, legal intern, 1996.
- Military Academy Appointee Selection Board; Congressman Michael Pappas (N.J.), 1997.
- Military Academy Appointee Selection Board; Congressman Scott Klug (WI), 1995 and 1996.
He is also an Eagle Scout.
Mr. Bannach grew up in central Wisconsin, where he worked during the summers on his grandfather’s potato farm.
