Billy Keenan

Billy Keenan is a retired high school history teacher from Rockland County, New York. He is a former Army Lieutenant and paratrooper, and served as the youngest company commander in the United States Army Southern command while stationed in Honduras, Central America in 1992. Billy holds a Bachelors degree in communications from Fordham University and a Masters of Science degree in education from St. Thomas Aquinas College. He is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and bandleader. He has mastered the tin whistle, flute, guitar, bass guitar, and piano. He is also a competitive triathlete and surfer. Billy has completed numerous 5K, 10K, and half marathon runs. He has also completed many Sprint triathlons as well as the New York City triathlon (1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, and a 10K run). From 2005 until 2013 Billy has served in Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, West Coast of Ireland, and up-and-down the Jersey shore. In September 2013, Billy suffered a spinal cord injury while surfing at the Jersey shore. His injuries left him a quadriplegic and reliant on a ventilator for breathing. Although his medical team never expected him to regain independent breathing, he was breathing again independently four months after his injury. One year after his accident, Billy returned home only to become a victim of physical neglect, financial, verbal, and psychological abuse. Against all odds, he returned to full-time teaching in September 2015. In September 2017, he embarked on a mission and ministry of public speaking. He would go on to speak at his alma mater Fordham University, United States Military Academy at West Point, St. John’s University and numerous high schools throughout the tri-state area. Billy is the proud father of two sons. He recently completed his autobiography “The Road to Resilience: The Billy Keenan Story”. He remains active as a public speaker and has recently returned to life as a recording artist.