July 19, 1950 – January 1, 2026
Keith King was a Vietnam veteran, tireless advocate for veterans, and visionary leader whose life’s work transformed opportunity for veteran-owned businesses across the nation and around the world.
Keith’s journey of service began with his commitment to the United States Army. In 1969, he enlisted and completed Military Police Advanced Training before deploying to Vietnam, where he served as a Specialist E-4 and M-60 machine gunner with the military police in the Central Highlands. There, he protected ammunition convoys along some of the most dangerous routes in support of American troops. He was honorably discharged with multiple service medals, including the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
His service did not end when he removed the uniform.
For more than four decades, Keith emerged as a nationally respected leader in veteran advocacy. He brought deep legislative experience to his work, adjudicating thousands of VA claims and successfully lobbying for laws that expanded benefits, access, and protections for veterans. He served in leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels, always focused on helping veterans successfully transition into civilian life and secure the opportunities they had earned through service and sacrifice.
A proud Vietnam veteran, Keith was also a founding member and Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America Detroit Chapter #9 (VVA 9). His leadership, brotherhood, and unwavering advocacy left a lasting imprint on the chapter and the broader Detroit veteran community.
Within NVBDC, Keith was more than a founder—he was the heart of the mission. He fostered a culture rooted in integrity, service, and purpose, drawing people together around a shared commitment to empowering veteran entrepreneurs. He mentored staff, developed leaders, and challenged those around him to think bigger and lead with conviction. Many who worked alongside Keith credit him not only with shaping their professional paths, but with strengthening their values, confidence, and dedication to service.
Keith’s impact extended far beyond the organization he built.
In 2013, recognizing a critical gap in the support available to veteran-owned businesses, Keith made the difficult decision to suspend his own successful business to focus entirely on creating something larger than himself. Working alongside veteran leaders and forward-thinking corporate partners, he helped develop and launch the nation’s first independent, third-party certification program for Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses (SD/VOBs)—a program corporate America could trust and respect.
Under Keith’s leadership, NVBDC grew into the leading certifier of SD/VOBs in the country, built on rigor, credibility, and mutual trust between veteran-owned businesses and corporate supply chains. Through his vision and persistence, thousands of veteran entrepreneurs gained access to procurement opportunities, visibility, and markets worth billions—transforming businesses, families, and communities.
What truly set Keith apart was his belief in people. He listened with intention, showed up when it mattered most, and encouraged others to see potential in themselves long before they recognized it. His influence reached veterans and their families, corporate executives, government leaders, policymakers, and community partners—leaving a lasting imprint on every life he touched.
Keith King’s legacy lives on through the people he mentored, the institution he built, and the countless lives he helped elevate. NVBDC reflects his vision, but his true legacy is found in the confidence he instilled, the opportunities he created, and the futures he helped secure for our nation’s heroes.
We extend our deepest condolences to Keith’s family, friends, colleagues, corporate members, partners, and the global veteran business community. While he is no longer with us, his mission endures—through NVBDC, through every certified veteran-owned business, and through the many lives forever changed by his leadership.
Rest in peace, Keith.
Your impact endures.
