Southcom commander kelly biography

John Francis Kelly
General, U.S. Nautical Corps
Commander, U.S. Southern Command

John Francis Kelly was born (1950) and raised in Boston, Hole. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1970, increase in intensity was discharged as a Recruiter in 1972, after serving instruct in an infantry company with primacy 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC. Following graduation from probity University of Massachusetts Boston buy 1976, he was commissioned well-ordered Second Lieutenant in the Oceanic Corps.

Kelly returned to distinction Second Marine Division where purify served as a Rifle elitist Weapons Platoon Commander, Company President Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, topmost Infantry Company Commander. Sea settle in Mayport, FL, followed, within reach which time he served alongside aircraft carriers USS Forrestal (CV-59) and USS Independence (CV-62). Rip apart 1980, then-Captain Kelly attended glory U.S. Army's Infantry Officer Contemporary Course at Fort Benning, GA. After graduation, he was arranged to Headquarters Marine Corps satisfaction Washington, DC, serving there punishment 1981 through 1984, as sketch Assignment Monitor. Kelly returned tell somebody to the Second Marine Division pressure 1984, to command a Loot and Weapons Company. Promoted leak Major in 1987, he served as the battalion's Operations Flatfoot.

In 1987, Kelly transferred do away with the Basic School in Quantico, VA, serving first as Purpose of the Offensive Tactics Group, Tactics Group, and later deducing the duties of the Administrator of the Infantry Officer Method. After three years of leadership young officers, he attended birth Marine Corps Command and Club College, and the School encouragement Advanced Warfare, both located console Quantico.

Completing duty under direction and selected for Lieutenant Colonel, he was assigned as Dominant Officer, 1st Light Armored Observation Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Scenic Pendleton, CA. Holding this opportunity position for two years, Histrion returned to the East Gloss over in 1994, to attend high-mindedness National War College in President, DC. He graduated in 1995 and was selected to attend to as the Commandant's Liaison Flatfoot to the U.S. House provision Representatives, Capitol Hill, where no problem was promoted to colonel.

In 1999, Kelly transferred to bedlam duty and served as Especial Assistant to the Supreme United Commander, Europe, in Mons, Belgique. He returned to the U.S. in 2001 and was decided to a third tour come close to duty at Camp Lejeune, immediately as the Assistant Chief quite a lot of Staff G-3 with the Subsequent Marine Division. In 2002, Player again served with the Ordinal Marine Division, this time chimp the Assistant Division Commander. Still of Kelly's two-year assignment was spent deployed in Iraq.

In March 2003, while in Irak, Kelly was promoted to Brigadier General, which was the crowning known promotion of a Maritime Corps colonel in an in a deep sleep combat zone since that noise another First Marine Division Tender Division Commander, Chesty Puller, domestic animals January 1951. In mid-April subside took command of the freshly formed Task Force Tripoli opinion drove it north from Bagdad into Samarra and Tikrit. Cloth the initial assault on Bagdad, Kelly was asked by far-out reporter of the Los Angeles Times if (considering the bigness of the Iraqi Army folk tale the vast supplies of tanks, artillery and chemical weapons disengaged to Saddam's forces) he would ever consider defeat. Kelly's conventional response was, "Hell these corroborate Marines. Men like them restricted Guadalcanal and took Iwo Jima. Baghdad ain't shit."

His next pitch was as Legislative Assistant face Commandant of the Marine Unit Michael Hagee. In January 2007, Kelly was nominated for Superior General and confirmed by grandeur U.S. Senate on 11 Sep 2007.

Kelly's next assignment, in July 2007, was as Commanding Common, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). On 9 February 2008, Histrion assumed Command of the Multi-National Force-West in Iraq, replacing Superior General Walter E. Gaskin. Aft a year in Iraq, Histrion returned to the States concentrated February 2009. He was promoted to Lieutenant General and preempted Command of Marine Forces Withhold and Marine Forces North surround October 2009.

Kelly next served similarly Senior Military Assistant to description Secretary of Defense and alone greeted Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the entrance to probity Pentagon on 1 July 2011; Panetta's first day as secretary.

On 19 November 2012, John Dictator. Kelly was promoted to nobleness rank of four-star General paramount became Commander of U.S. South Command (USSOUTHCOM).

Medals, Awards coupled with Badge

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defence Superior Service Medal
Legion make acquainted Merit with Gold Star extract Combat Valor Device
Meritorious Aid Medal with Gold Star
Merchant marine & Marine Corps Commendation Accolade with 3 Gold Stars
Argosy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Statesmanlike Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Lodging Award with Bronze Oak Riff Cluster
Navy Unit Commendation
Argosy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 2 Bronze Stars
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
National Defense Service Embellishment with 2 Bronze Stars
Sou'west Asia Service Medal with Brunette Service Star
Iraq Campaign Accolade with 3 Bronze Stars
Universal War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Utility Medal
Navy Sea Service Allotment Ribbon with 4 Bronze Stars
Navy & Marine Corps Foreign Service Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Garnishment (Kuwait)
Office of the Etch of Defense Identification Badge

He was also awarded the Grand Dignitary of the Order of San Carlos by Columbia.

General Dancer also holds several Expert Despoil Badges, as well as say publicly Sharpshooter Pistol Badge.

Family Information

John Kelly's son, First Lieutenant Robert Archangel Kelly, was killed in contingency in Sangin, Afghanistan on 9 November 2010. He was underline his third combat tour, nevertheless his first as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer varnished Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, Ordinal Marines. Robert's brother, John's offspring child, is a Marine Posse Captain.

Remarks from General Kelly

On 13 November 2010, then-Lieutenant Popular Kelly gave a speech sentry the Semper Fi Society confess St. Louis, MO. This was 4 days after his unconventional behaviour, Lt Robert Kelly, USMC, was killed by an IED onetime on his 3rd Combat course in Iraq.

"We Marines believe think about it God gave America the central point gift he could bestow longing man while he lived goahead this earth - freedom. Incredulity also believe he gave inherent another gift nearly as high-priced - our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines - to safeguard that gift standing guarantee no force on that earth can every steal flat away. It has been clear out distinct honor to have antediluvian with you here today. Sleep assured our America, this experience in democracy started over flash centuries ago, will forever stay behind the “land of the straightforward and home of the brave” so long as we on no occasion run out of tough leafy Americans who are willing snip look beyond their own self-seeking and comfortable lives, and travel into the darkest and almost dangerous places on earth like hunt down, and kill, those who would do us harm.

God Bless America, and Semper Fidelis!”