Mr. James L. Kelly is a career member of the Senior Executive Service, currently serving as the Deputy Director, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. As Deputy Director, he supports the Director leading a team of 300 military and civilian Airmen in 12 divisions, executing a $5.5 billion annual budget. He also provides direction and oversight to 42,000 Airmen within 34 wings, at 19 air bases, and over 70 operating locations worldwide, who maintain 1,100 aircraft, oversee civil engineering projects and provide security.
Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Kelly served as the Senior Advisor for Sustainment in the F-35 Integration Office, Headquarters Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. His other civilian assignments included the F-35 Logistics Team Leader in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, and various acquisition logistics and financial management positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Department of the Army.
Mr. Kelly began his 42-year Military career as a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Army Initial Entry Rotary Wing Aviator Course and the Army Aircraft Maintenace Manager, Maintenance Test Pilot Course. He flew as Pilot in Command of the AH-1S Cobra and the AH-64A Apache Attack Helicopters, as he served as a company, battalion and brigade Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and V Corps Maintenance Test Flight Evaluator. He flew combat missions in the first Persian Gulf War and security missions in Bosnia.
EDUCATION
1989 Associate of Science, Aviation Business Administration, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
1998 Bachelor of Science, Aviation Maintenance Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2004 Master of Public Administration, The American University, Washington, D.C.
2008 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1982–1983, Student, OH-58A/C Kiowa Aero-Scout and AH-1S Attack Helicopter Pilot Tracks, United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Ala.
2. 1983–1985, AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot in Command, 501st Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Armor Division, United States Army Europe, West Germany
3. 1985–1986, Student, Aircraft Armament Maintenance Officer Course, United States Army Aviation Logistics School, Fort Eustis, Va.
4. 1986–1987, AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot in Command/Armament Maintenance Officer, 82nd Aviation Brigade, 18th Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.
5. 1987–1989, Student, AH-64A Attack Helicopter Pilot Transition Course, United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Ala.
6. 1989–1991, Student, Maintenance Manager/Maintenance Test Pilot Course, AH-64A Attack Helicopter Pilot Track, United States Army Aviation Logistics School, Fort Eustis, Va.
7. 1991–1995, AH-64A Apache Attack Helicopter Pilot in Command/Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 2/227th Aviation Battalion, 3rd Armor Division, First Persian Gulf War
8. 1995–1996, AH-64A Apache Attack Helicopter Pilot in Command/Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 2/227th Aviation Battalion, 3rd Armor Division, NATO Forces, Bosnia
9. 1996–1997, AH-64A Apache Attack Helicopter Pilot in Command/Aircraft Maintenance Officer/Maintenance Test Flight Evaluator, V Corps Army Aviation Safety and Standardization Detachment, Headquarters, United States Army Europe, Germany
10. 1997–2002, Logistics Staff Officer (Aviation and Safety) Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff Logistics, G4, Headquarters, Department of the Army, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. 2002–2005, Acquisition Logistician, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Integrated Logistics Support), Headquarters, Department of the Army, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. 2005–2007, Director, Weapon Systems Acquisition Logistics, Office of Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology), Headquarters, Department of the Army, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. 2007–2008, Professional Military Education Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort Lesley McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. 2008–2010, Chief, Logistics Integration Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff Logistics, G4, Headquarters, Department of the Army, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. 2010–2019, F-35 Logistics Team Lead, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Sustainment), the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. 2019–2021, Deputy for Sustainment, F-35 Integration Office, Headquarters, Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. 2021–present, Deputy Director, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Army Aviator
Flight hours: more than 3,500
Aircraft flown: Bell AH-1S, BH-47, BH-204, OH-58A/C and UH-1H; Boeing AH-64A; Sikorsky TH-55A; Cessna CE-150/-152/-172 and Piper PA-18/-28/-31/-32/-42/-44
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with “Numeral 2” device
Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award
U.S. Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award
U.S. Army Superior Civilian Service Award
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Federal Aviation Administration Airline Transport Pilot, Airplane and Helicopter
Advanced Financial Management, Life Cycle Logistics and Program Management
Senior Acquisition Course, Defense Leadership and Management Program
(Current as of June 2024)