Elected in 2006, Keith is in his first term as County Judge for one of the fastest growing counties in the nation.  Collin County numbers almost 800,000 in population.

A fifth-generation Texan and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Keith Self served our nation for 25 years as an Army officer, first retiring from active duty in 1999. He was recalled to active duty in 2002 - 2003 for service in Afghanistan and Qatar, serving in the Plans and Policy Directorate, US Central Command on General Tommy Franks' staff planning the invasion of Iraq.

Keith served for 12 years in Joint assignments (integrating Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines):

• US embassy in Cairo, Egypt - helping to manage the $2 Billion in US taxpayer-funded military aid to Egypt each year;
• US European Command, Germany - managing the US-Israeli military relationship;
• Pentagon - developing and implementing national strategy in the emerging high tech area of Information Warfare;
• National Security Council (NSC) Interagency Working Group in the White House complex - representing the Joint Staff in a Special Access Program;
• NATO military staff in Belgium - negotiating with 37 nations for forces to deploy to Kosovo and Bosnia.

A Ranger, Green Beret and Master Parachutist infantry officer, Keith Self served nine years in the 82nd Airborne Division and Green Berets, commanding an airborne rifle company; a Special Forces A-Team deploying a man-portable nuclear munition (suitcase nuke) and a Special Forces company. He is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College and holds a Masters degree in International Relations.

Keith recently completed a two-year term on the Executive Board of the North central Texas Council of Governments. He currently serves on the boards of the Samaritan Inn and the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center; and the U.S. Army D/FW Community Advisory Board.

Keith and Tracy have been married for 34 years.