Greg Keeley needed a helping hand to achieve success both in the military and after his service ended. Now, through his own bourbon making business, Keeley is paying it forward, providing opportunities to other veterans.
Keeley had a unique and unconventional military life. He was born and grew up in Australia, spending more than 10 years in the Royal Australian Navy. He fought with U.S. allies in Iraq and Afghanistan and served in national security and counterterrorism positions in the initial years of the post-911 wars.
After a decade in the Royal Australian Navy, Keeley was planning for his next chapter in life as a civilian. But his service impressed military brass, so much so that Keeley received an offer he could not pass up directly from a three-star admiral – American citizenship, along with becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. The move was even supported by members of Congress.
It was a rare promotion and an opportunity that seldom comes along for a non-U.S. servicemember.
Overcoming Post-Military Transition
Of all the obstacles he faced in the military, surviving two wars zones chief among them, Keeley’s toughest hurdle came after he left the service.
He could not adjust to civilian life.
Battling post-traumatic stress disorder, Keeley leaned on his wife, Katie, a Navy nurse, for help. Katie steered him toward veteran support programs, and it pulled Keeley out of his depression.
Since then, Keeley has advocated for other veterans to seek support if they need it. He told FOX 56 in Kentucky the mental health resources available not only help struggling veterans, but also their friends and families.
From the Navy to Making Bourbon
For Keeley, a brief work trip to Kentucky led him to a permanent stay. He fell in love with the Bluegrass State and decided to plant roots there.
He founded a business, Larrikin Bourbon Co. in Lawrenceburg, one of the few veteran-owned distilleries in Kentucky. Keeley discovered a growing bourbon atmosphere in Kentucky and a sense of camaraderie among distillers that reminded him of the military.
The Navy veteran said the bourbon community is a tightknit group of people who pass along knowledge, techniques and show genuine care for their fellow distillers – a feeling of support he recalls fondly from the service.
Despite the support, beginning his business was challenging. “Experts” warned Keeley that starting a bourbon distillery from scratch was foolish. However, he stuck to his dream and, leaning on his military background, completed his mission no matter the circumstances.
Keeley said “Larrikin” derives from Australian military slang, a term used for a “maverick” or person who may bend the rules but never compromises the mission, which Keeley feels is the ideal description for his bourbon and the veterans he hires.
Years after leaving the service – a military career with two different nations – Keeley is continuing to serve, just in another capacity. And he never strays far away from the service. Katie is currently on a deployment with the Navy.
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