DAVID V. KEYES

DAVID KEYES Obituary

DAVID VERNON KEYES

David died of cancer November 4, 2014, at his Fairfax, VA home, surrounded by people who loved him.

His professional life included 27 years with the FBI and a later career in cyber security. In private life, he loved science fiction, root beer floats and above all, his family.

Born November 18, 1946, to Vernon H. and Mildred W. Keyes, David grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. While attending the University of Utah, he met Janet Crystal, his beloved wife of 42 years.

His FBI career spanned bureaus in Nebraska, Illinois, California and Washington, DC. He served as legal attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bonn, where fluent German learned years earlier on a Mormon mission served him well. After the Berlin Wall fell, he became FBI liaison with law enforcement agencies of former Cold War adversaries.

Returning to Washington, he specialized in the emerging area of cyber security, serving on the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection and chairing the Federal Infrastructure Protection Task Force. He also was inspector-in-charge of the FBI's Office of Computer Investigations. After retiring from the FBI, he worked for several Washington-area companies, and at the time of his death was chief operating officer of Policy Analytical and Security Services Inc.

An unassuming man, he combined keen intelligence with dry humor. He was a stalwart in his church, exemplifying its message of faith and kindness, and serving in many leadership positions. Respected by his colleagues, cherished by his family, devoted to his loved ones, his country and his God, David lived a life of purpose and achievement. The lives of all he touched are better for it.

Besides his wife Janet, survivors are his son, Jeffrey; daughters, Whitney (Mark Austin), Jennifer (Randy Michaux) and Kristy (Charlie Wolford); sisters, Sharon (Bill Matthews), Susan (Jim Sulat) and Saundra; 10 grandchildren and eight nephews and nieces.

Services are scheduled for 11 a.m., November 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2719 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA.

Donations in David's memory can be made to the Wounded Warrior Cyber Combat Academy (www.w2cca.org), whose founder describes David as catalyst for the idea of training wounded military members for cyber security careers.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Nov. 9, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for DAVID KEYES

Sponsored by Jim Wiggins.

3 Entries

Alexandra Sharpstone

May 3, 2018

My deepest sympathies dear Janet

Brockman Self

November 11, 2014

David, as my roommate during training class and partner in out first office in Omaha, you always were an inspiration. I learned so much from your always calm and gentle but firm manner during arrests and investigations. You were my hero and mentor for sure. All my love to your family at this time of all of our loss.

Jim Wiggins

November 9, 2014

David taught me more about people that probably anyone I know. He did it by his own personal demeanor and the way he would communicate with you. The best way I can describe it was that he was a consummate gentleman who was quiet and unassuming. He never entered a conversation without first checking if his presence was out of place. That simple act could disarm the most skeptical recipient, as it allowed the person who he was communicating with to feel like they were important and mattered to him. David taught me that the way to influence people was not by debate or proving to another that you were smarter than them, but rather planting ideas and making the other person think they were generating the ideas them self. Unbeknownst to David, I would study his communication style for several years and find ways to adopt some of his approaches in my own life. If one of the purposes to life is to contribute to society and leave a lasting impact to your fellow man, I know that I am one many people David mentored and help become a better person. I am such a better person for having known David Keyes and today our world is a whole lot emptier for having lost such a noble and caring gentleman. I love you David.

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