Presenters

Keith Thurgood

 Keith Thurgood is a Clinical Professor of Healthcare Leadership and Management at the Jindal School of Management of the University of Texas at Dallas where he also the Director of graduate program in healthcare leadership and management and is an Adjunct Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship.  In addition to his responsibilities at UT Dallas, Dr. Thurgood is a faculty member and senior advisor for the Thayer Leader Development Group (West Point, New York). 

Dr. Thurgood brings a unique perspective on healthcare, operations management and leadership having served at senior level leadership positions in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.   Most recently Dr. Thurgood has returned to UTD following a 14-month sabbatical following an appointed by the Secretary of Defense Chief Management Officer to lead the largest global community services, retail and grocery reform effort in a generation. He was also President, Spend and Clinical Management, MedAssets, a healthcare performance improvement company.  He also served as President and CEO of Overseas Military Sales Corporation and as the Senior Vice President of Operations for Sam’s Club. He also served as the CEO of The Exchange (formerly the Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), the United States Department of Defense’s $10 billion global for-profit retail enterprise and he has also held executive positions with Frito-Lay and PepsiCo. In addition to his civilian job, he has over 28 years of Army service, both active and reserve.  Major General Thurgood served as the Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, United States Army Reserve in Washington, D.C.  His last assignment prior to his retirement was the Deputy, Business Transformation, Office of the Secretary of the Army.  During his tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was the Commanding General of the Army’s largest transportation and distribution command and simultaneously the Deputy Commanding General of the theater logistics support / supply chain command 

Dr. Thurgood serves on numerous not-for profit boards.  Dr. Thurgood holds a BA in Political Science from Brigham Young University, a MS in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, a MS in Business Administration from Boston University and a PhD in Organizational Development and Leadership from Capella University. He is a frequent nationally recognized speaker on leadership and operations management.