Major General James A. Kelley

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs (Readiness Training & Mobilization)

Major General James A. Kelley is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs (Readiness, Training, & Mobilization) since September 2006.  He serves as the principal staff advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs on matters pertaining to Reserve Components’ readiness, training, and mobilization.

Major General Kelley is a native of Dayton, Ohio.  He received his commission from the United States Military Academy in June 1974.  After completing the Armor Officer's Basic Course and Airborne and Ranger Schools, General Kelley was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division.  There he served as a Tank Platoon Leader, Tank Company XO, and Scout Platoon Leader.  General Kelley was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as the aide-de-camp to the Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver.  After completing flight school in 1979, he was assigned to the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (2d ACR), Germany. In the 2d ACR, General Kelley served as an Attack Helicopter Platoon Leader, Aviation Maintenance Officer, and Attack Troop Executive Officer. In 1983 he was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, where he served in the 2d Squadron, 10th Cavalry.  There he commanded D Troop of the Squadron and subsequently became the Squadron XO.  General Kelley attended the Armed Forces Staff College in 1986 following by a joint assignment at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. In 1989 he returned to the 7th Infantry Division where he served as the Aviation Brigade's Operations Officer for the planning and execution of Operation “Just Cause” in Panama.  He later became The Brigade's XO.  In 1992 General Kelley was placed in command of 3-17 Cavalry Squadron of the 10th Mountain Division.  During his assignment the unit deployed to Hurricane Andrew Relief Operations and later Operation “Restore Hope” in Somalia.  General Kelley graduated from the school of Information Warfare and Strategy at the National Defense University in 1994.  He would go on to become the Branch Chief to the Information Operation Division in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters, Department of the Army.  Major General Kelley assumed command of the Aviation Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) in 1997.  The unit deployed throughout the Pacific on a variety of exercises and contingency missions.  In 1999 he was selected as the Division’s Chief of Staff.  In July 2001 he was assigned to Fort McPherson, GA as the Army Forces Command Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G3/5/7.  He served in this role during the September 11th tragedy and the early stages of Operation “Noble Eagle” and “Enduring Freedom.”  He assumed duties as the US Army Reserve Chief of Staff in July 2002.  His assignment prior to joining OSD was as the Deputy Commanding General of 3rd US Army and the Coalition Forces Land Component Command for the CENTCOM theater of operations.

General Kelley holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the United States Military Academy- West Point, MBA in Management from Golden Gate University and an MS in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University.

General Kelley has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab, Army Staff Identification Badge. 

His wife Yvette is a Colonel in the United States Army assigned to Ft. Shafter Hawaii, where she lives with their son Jack, 11.  General Kelley’s daughter Colleen is a graduate student at Cornell University.