Auburn native, longtime Biden aide, committed to public service

Growing up in Auburn, Brian McKeon was exposed to government and politics at a young age.

McKeon’s father, William, chaired the New York State Democratic Party. The elder McKeon served as counsel to state legislative committees and was a state Board of Elections commissioner.

“Given my father’s career in politics and law, it was probably a little bit in my DNA that I would gravitate toward the career I ended up doing,” Brian McKeon said in an interview with The Citizen.

McKeon, a member of the Auburn Alumni Hall of Distinction Class of 2019, was surprised when he was informed by one of his brothers that he was nominated for induction. It was unexpected recognition of a long career in public service that was not only born out of his family’s civic engagement, but experiences he had as a student in Auburn.

He recalled class trips to Washington that showed him a world outside of his hometown. His interest grew during his undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame. Between his sophomore and junior years, he interned for longtime U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y..

“That was a terrific experience and led me to want to come back someday,” he said.