CPT Pedersen-Keel was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.  On March 11, 2013, Andrew was killed by small arms fire when a Afghan policeman opened fire on US and Afghan forces inside a police headquarters in eastern Afghanistan. He was reportedly one of two U.S. special operations forces and two Afghan policemen killed in Wardak province. The other soldier killed was Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Okla.

He graduated from Avon Old Farms in 2002 and then graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2006. In 2008, he deployed to Afghanistan for 12 months with the 3rd BCT where he served as a company executive officer and platoon leader. Following that deployment, he completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and language training, he was assigned to the 1st Bn., 3rd SFG (A) as a detachment commander in August 2012, and deployed with the unit to Afghanistan.

Proceeds from the CPT Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel bracelet will be donated to APK Charities in his memory.