Keith Frakes began his law enforcement career in 1984 with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona, following his active-duty service in the United States Army. In 1986, he was selected for the agency’s full-time Tactical Operations Unit and became an FBI-certified bomb technician in 1990. During his distinguished career, he also served as a departmental SCUBA diver and instructor and helped develop the agency’s tactical aerial insertion capabilities. His courage and dedication earned him the Sheriff’s Star for Bravery and recognition as Deputy of the Year in 1992.

A respected leader and innovator in the tactical and explosives communities, Keith modernized his agency’s explosive breaching program and provided training to law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. For more than two decades, he was a featured presenter at the annual Breachers Symposium and was honored as the International Breacher of the Year in 2011. He was also an early advocate for integrating tactically trained bomb technicians into SWAT operations, recognizing the critical value of direct counter-IED support during high-risk incidents.

Keith rose through the ranks of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, serving as both Sergeant and Lieutenant in the SWAT Division before retiring in 2004 as a Captain and Commander of the Counterterrorism Division.

Following his law enforcement career, Keith joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories, where he provided advanced explosives training and supported the development of specialized technologies for military and law enforcement organizations. For more than 15 years, he served as a member of the Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST), contributing to some of the nation’s most critical security missions.

Keith also dedicated 41 years of combined service to the United States Army and Army Reserve, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer Four. His military service included assignments in Germany, Panama, and Japan, as well as deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He later served at the Pentagon, helping develop enhanced counter-IED strategies and capabilities.
A member of the National Tactical Officers Association for nearly four decades, Keith served as an instructor, EOD/Explosives Section Chair, member of the Board of Directors, and Director Emeritus. Throughout his tenure, he was a steadfast advocate for preserving the NTOA’s founding mission while helping expand its influence and impact across the tactical profession.