Mr. James L. Kelly is a career member of the Senior Executive Service, currently serving as 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 people across 12 divisions, executing a $5.5 billion annual budget. He also provides direction and oversight to 42,000 people in 34 Wings and 19 bases, at more than 70 operating locations worldwide, who maintain 1,100 fighter and special mission aircraft.
Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Kelly served as Senior Advisor for Sustainment in the F-35A Integration Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. His other defense civilian assignments include the F-35 Logistics Team Leader in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, and various aircraft acquisition logistics and financial management positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Department of the Army.
Mr. Kelly is a distinguished graduate of the United States Army Initial Entry Rotary Wing Aviator course. He served as an Army Attack Helicopter Pilot, Company, Battalion and Brigade Aviation Maintenance Officer, and V Corps Maintenance Test Flight Evaluator. He served multiple duty assignments in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. 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
1998 Bachelor of Science, Aviation Maintenance Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2004 Master of Public Administration, American University
2008 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Army Aviator
Flight hours: more than 3,500
Aircraft flown: Bell AH-1F/S, BH-47, BH-204, OH-58A/C and UH-1H; Boeing AH-64A; Sikorsky TH-55A military and civilian helicopters; Cessna CE-150/-152/-172 and Piper PA-18/-28/-31/-32/-42/-44 civilian airplanes
MAJOR MILITARY AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal
NATO Medal
CIVILIAN AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award
US Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award
US Army Superior Civilian Service Award Air Medal with numeral 2 device
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Level III Certified in Business Financial Management, Life Cycle Logistics and Program Management
Graduate of the Senior Acquisition Course, and Defense Leadership and Management Program Federal Aviation Administration Airline Transport Pilot with Airplane and Helicopter Ratings
(Current as of April 2024)