MAJOR GENERAL (DR.) JOSEPH E. KELLEY

Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Joseph E. Kelley is Joint Staff Surgeon, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He serves as the chief medical adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, providing advice to the Chairman, the Joint Staff and combatant commanders. He also coordinates all issues related to operational medicine, force health protection and readiness among the combatant commands, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the services. He is the U.S. delegate to the NATO Council of Medical Directors, and he is involved in other international medical relationships. He also serves on the congressionally directed Future of Military Health Care Task Force.

General Kelley was born and raised in Chicago, Ill., and graduated second in his class from the U.S. Air Force Academy. While at the academy, he received the Surgeon General's award as the outstanding graduate in life sciences. He attended Rush University Medical School and finished in three years. The general continued his education with a residency in general surgery at David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, Calif., in combination with the University of California, Davis. He moved to Nellis AFB, Nev., where he was a general surgeon and later Chief of General Surgery. The general was certified by the American Board of Surgery and attended the Aerospace Medicine Primary Course where he was a distinguished graduate. Prior to departing Nellis AFB, General Kelley was presented the Walter Award for outstanding leadership.

At Misawa Air Base, Japan, the general was Chief of Hospital Services, Chief of Surgery and interim Chief of Aerospace Medicine. In 1986, General Kelley was reassigned as Commander of the 90th Strategic Hospital, Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyo., where the Secretary of Defense presented his unit the Richard B. Cheney Trophy as the best military unit in Wyoming, and he was selected as the Strategic Air Command's Outstanding Medical Leader. As Commander of the 857th Strategic Hospital, Minot AFB, N.D., General Kelley became the only individual to win the Strategic Air Command's Medical Leadership Award for a second time. He commanded the Ehrling Berquist Hospital at Offutt AFB, Neb., served as Chief of Medical Resources in the Office of the Surgeon General, and was Command Surgeon for Pacific Air Forces. As Commander, Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and Lead Agent, Department of Defense Health Region 5, the general's unit received Defense Department awards for patient satisfaction and access, and a Commander Installation Excellence Unit Award. Prior to assuming his current position, the general was Assistant Surgeon General for Healthcare Operations, Office of the Surgeon General.

General Kelly is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. He has had academic appointments as clinical professor and assistant dean, and has taught Advanced Trauma Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Emergency Medical Technician Course, and given numerous presentations.

EDUCATION
1974 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1977 Doctor of medicine degree, Rush University Medical School, Chicago
1982 General surgery internship and residency, David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, Calif.
1984 School of Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, Brooks AFB, Texas
1986 Air Command and Staff College
1988 Air War College
1992 Physician in Management I, American College of Physician Executives, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1992 Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Executives, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
1994 Physician in Management II, American College of Physician Executives, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1997 Physician in Management III, American College of Physician Executives, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2005 Executives in Logistics and Technology, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2005 National Security Studies Decision-Making Seminar, Maxwell School of Syracuse University, N.Y.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1974 - June 1977, medical student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Rush University Medical School, Chicago
2. August 1977 - June 1982, resident, general surgery, David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, Calif.
3. July 1982 - July 1984, general surgeon, later, Chief of Surgery, Nellis U.S. Air Force Hospital, Nellis AFB, Nev.
4. July 1984 - September 1986, Chief, Hospital Services, Misawa U.S. Air Force Hospital, Misawa AB, Japan
5. October 1986 - August 1989, Commander, 90th Strategic Hospital, Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
6. August 1989 - May 1991, Commander, 857th Strategic Hospital, Minot AFB, N.D.
7. June 1991 - June 1992, Commander, 5th Medical Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
8. July 1992 - July 1993, Commander, Ehrling Bergquist Hospital, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. August 1993 - March 1995, Chief, Medical Resources, Directorate of Medical Programs and Resources, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
10. April 1995 - November 1996, Command Surgeon, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
11. December 1996 - May 2002, Commander, 74th Medical Group, and Lead Agent, Department of Defense Health Service Region 5, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. May 2002 - July 2003, Assistant Surgeon General for Expeditionary Operations, Science and Technology, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2003 - May 2005, Assistant Surgeon General for Healthcare Operations, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
14. May 2005 - present, Joint Staff Surgeon (J4), the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Chief flight surgeon
Flight hours: More than 750
Aircraft flown: KC-135, C-141, C-135, C-137, E-4, F-16, B-52 and UH-1

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1984 Walter Award for Outstanding Leadership
1988 and 1991 Strategic Air Command Medical Leadership Award
Air Force state faculty member for the Advanced Trauma Life Support Course

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
American College of Physician Executives
Association of Military Surgeons of the United States
American Medical Association
Society of Consultants to the Armed Forces

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain June 11, 1977
Major June 11, 1982
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 1, 1986
Colonel Jan. 31, 1991
Brigadier General July 1, 1997
Major General Sept. 1, 2003

(Current as of April 2007)