John W. Keker has been sworn in to serve on the seven member Presidio Trust Board of Directors. President Barack Obama appointed Keker, a San Francisco resident, to the board through a May 4, 2017 term, to replace the role of David H. Grubb, whose term has expired. Paula R. Collins, who was appointed to the Board in 2012, was voted in as Vice Chair of the Board. Ms. Collins, founder and director of Presidio Bank, has served in numerous urban planning projects on development teams for projects including the Moscone Convention Center and has a strong background in real estate development.

Keker, founder the San Francisco law firm of Keker & Van Nest, is a celebrated attorney and decorated military veteran. Among other professional honors, he was recently listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in the United States, and the best lawyer in the San Francisco Bay Area. Keker graduated from Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, then served as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry platoon leader in Vietnam. Keker was wounded in service and retired from the Marine Corps in 1967.

“I have long been cheering the Trust on from the sidelines and look forward to jumping in to help the Presidio reach its full potential,” said Keker. “I am honored to be joining the Presidio Trust Board of Directors at this important moment in the organization’s evolution.”

Keker graduated from Yale Law School in 1970 and then served as law clerk to Retired Chief Justice Earl Warren, at the U.S. Supreme Court. He served as President of the San Francisco Police Commission twice, under Mayors Agnos and Brown, as Chairman of the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Control Board under Governor Jerry Brown, and as Vice President of the San Francisco Fire Commission during the Loma Prieta earthquake.

The Presidio Trust achieved financial self-sufficiency in 2013 and now operates without taxpayer support. Keker joins the board at a time when the organization turns its focus from saving the Presidio to sharing it with a broader public.

“Mr. Keker brings a wealth of experience, deep passion, and a critical perspective as a military veteran,” said Nancy Bechtle, Chair of the Trust Board. “We are thrilled to welcome John to the Presidio Trust Board of Directors.”

About the Presidio Trust: The Presidio Trust, a federal agency, is an innovation in the management of a treasured American place. The Trust was created to save the Presidio and transform it for a new national purpose. The Trust's vision is that the Presidio will be forever a public place: vital to the Bay Area, important to all Americans, and recognized for achieving broad benefits for the nation. Today, the Presidio welcomes visitors, is home to a vibrant community of residents and tenants, and inspires greater good through programs that draw on its history and natural resources. The Presidio Trust serves the public with events, lodging, venues, and recreational opportunities. To learn more, visit www.presidio.gov