About Keith Fichtelman

Keith with his parents, Richard and Kathryn, and his brother, Ken, at Pauley Pavilion for a UCLA basketball game

Jumping rope with children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Tanzania

Keith was born and raised in Riverside County, California, in the suburban city of Corona. Growing up Keith was always heavily involved at his church and his faith remains an important part of his life. Following high school Keith attended UCLA. While at UCLA, Keith played a prominent leadership role on UCLA's intercollegiate mock trial team gaining national prominence for his advocacy skills. During his summers, Keith worked with a high school leadership conference in Washington, DC educating high school students about the trial advocacy process.

Following his undergraduate studies at UCLA, Keith relocated for two years to the Washington, DC area. While there Keith initially began working with the Association of the United States Army, a non-profit organization working to support all aspects of national security while advancing the interests of the men and women who serve in the U.S. Army. Following his time with the AUSA, Keith went to work for a large government contractor where he helped to manage approximately 500 employees located in offices across the country for a large contract with the Department of Homeland Security.

After his two years in Washington, Keith began his legal studies at the University of Minnesota Law School. After one year in Minnesota, Keith very happily returned to Los Angeles to complete the last two years of his legal studies at the UCLA School of Law. Keith was honored while in law school to take part in a prestigious internship program with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The ICTR is tasked with the prosecution of the alleged organizers and instigators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Keith personally participated in the drafting of judgments in two very high profile cases involving former government officials who ordered and oversaw the extermination of thousands of ethnic Tutsis.

In his free time Keith enjoys traveling, the arts, playing various sports, spending quality time with friends and family, and supporting all things UCLA.