Defined for so long by two events in Bali, Mick Keelty now has a new definition: Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
The former federal police commissioner became the very human but very resolute face of the Bali bombing in which 88 Australians died in 2002. He also led the Australian response to the Boxing Day tsunami in Indonesia.
More controversially, he was the man who told his political masters in 2004 that involvement in the Iraq war made Australia a target for terrorists.
For many he became a light in a difficult time. But in 2005 Mr Keelty was anything but light when Indonesian authorities arrested the so-called Bali Nine drug couriers.
It was revealed subsequently that federal police had chosen not to apprehend them in Australia, exposing the nine young people to Indonesia's death penalty.
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Last year, Mr Keelty moved to right what many thought a wrong by providing supporting evidence in an appeal by one of the nine, Scott Rush. The successful appeal removed Rush from death row.
Nowadays, life has settled down significantly for the man who spent eight years as the nation's top cop.
He has moved into academia where his previous experience is appreciated and valued by the nation's universities.
In February, Mr Keelty accepted an offer from the West Australian government to lead the inquiry into bushfires that destroyed 72 homes.
