BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN J. KELLY JR.

Brigadier General John J. Kelly Jr. is director, Directorate of Weather, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

General Kelly was born in 1940, in Paterson, N.J., where he graduated from Paterson Central High School in 1958. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Seton Hall University in 1962, did graduate work in meteorology at Pennsylvania State University, and earned a master of public administration degree from Auburn University in 1976. The general completed Squadron Officer School as a distinguished graduate in 1966, Air Command and Staff College in 1976, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1982.

After receiving his commission through Officer Training School in August 1963, General Kelly attended weather officer training at New York University. In July 1964 he was assigned as a weather officer at Cigli Air Base, Turkey. From January 1966 to August 1968 he was a current operations officer, Headquarters 7th Weather Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He then attended Pennsylvania State University.

In December 1969 the general was assigned to McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., where he served as a technical sciences officer with the 15th Weather Squadron. In July 1972 he transferred to Detachment 1, 10th Weather Squadron, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, as the command weather briefer, Military Assistance Command Vietnam.

He returned to the United States in April 1973 and was assigned to Headquarters 5th Weather Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he served first as the Headquarters Tactical Air Command weather briefer and, later, as a current operations officer. After graduating from Air Command and Staff College in July 1976, he returned to Scott Air Force Base as an action officer at Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Directorate of Programming and Policy, and as director, special projects, Headquarters Air Weather Service. In June 1980 he returned to McGuire Air Force Base as commander, 15th Weather Squadron.

General Kelly graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in July 1982. He next was assigned to Air Force headquarters as deputy chief, Policy and Procedures Group, Directorate of Computer Resources, Comptroller of the Air Force, and then served as deputy director for plans and programs, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Information Systems. From March 1984 to June 1985 he was vice commander, 7th Weather Wing headquarters. The general then assumed command of the 5th Weather Wing, Langley Air Force Base. He was assigned to Air Weather Service headquarters as vice commander in August 1987, and became commander in July 1988. He assumed his present position in April 1991.

The general's military awards and decorations Include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster. He also wears the Master Meteorologist and Basic Space badges.

He was promoted to brigadier general Aug. 1, 1989, with same date of rank.

(Current as of June 1991)