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• Friday, July 19, 2024

  Navy Vet Keith Koster Elected Commander of NY State American Legion

  

  Keith Koster poses with Legion flag at Santanoni Peak.

  U.S. Navy veteran Keith Koster, a cancer survivor who climbed all 46 Adirondack peaks to commemorate The American Legion Centennial in 2019, is the new commander of the American Legion Department of New York. He serves a one-year term.

  His election and that of other top officers for 2024-2025 concluded the 106th Annual Department Convention, held July 17-19 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center.

  A U. S. Navy veteran, Koster was an electronic warfare technician aboard the USS Suribaci during the 1980s. His service included deployment to the Mediterranean.

  After his honorable discharge, Koster eventually joined Xerox Corporation as a technician and became an area service manager, retiring after 33 years in 2021.

  He has been a member of Adirondack Post 70 in Saratoga Springs for more than 26 years, serving in a variety of positions, including post commander. Koster also served as commander on the county and district levels before serving a term as department vice commander. His Legion involvement extends to the national level where he serves on four committees.

  In 2021 State Sen. Daphne Jordan, R-Halfmoon, inducted him into Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.

  A native of Schenectady, Koster resides in Saratoga Springs with his wife of 39 years, Cindy. The couple has two children and two grandchildren.

  A graduate of Shenendehowa High School, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in applied arts and sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

  Other than his family, in his spare time he enjoys mountaineering, pickleball, and ballroom dancing.