Story and photos by Lt. Col. Michele R. Sutak
AR-MEDCOM Public Affairs
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – Maj. Gen. Bryan R. Kelly, a native of Stamford, became the 4th commanding General of the Army Reserve Medical Command Sept. 23, in a ceremony here at C.W. Bill Young Armed Forces Reserve Center. Kelly took over for the retiring Maj. Gen. Robert J. Kasulke, who began his command at AR-MEDCOM October 1, 2009.
“Bryan you have an outstanding crew here, there’s no ifs’, ands’, or buts’ about it,” said Kasulke. “And … there yours, you can only move forward.”
During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Luis R. Visot, deputy commanding general - operations of the United States Army Reserve Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., transferred the AR-MEDCOM colors to Kelly with the assistance of Command Sgt. Maj. Harold P. Estabrooks, his senior enlisted advisor. The passing of the colors symbolically represents the passing of responsibility and authority over to the new AR-MEDCOM commander.
“It is our good fortune that the Army Reserve has a great bench of leaders, and our good fortunate that we have another great leader, our newest Maj. Gen in the United States Army, Maj. Gen. Bryan Kelly,” said Visot.
“Part of the value of the Warrior citizen is the civilian acquired skills,” addressed Visot, recognizing Kelly’s civilian capacity as a clinical psychologist. “The knowledge and experience it brings to the United States outfit.”
Denise, the wife of Kelly, stood alongside during his promotion by Visot to Major General, and the unfurling of the two star flag. Their adult daughters, Kristina from Burlington, Vt., and Michelle of East Sandwich., were not able to be present for the ceremony.
“WOW, it’s just an honor and a privilege,” said Kelly. “It was one of my sincerest hopes to be able to pin … and be recognized in front of the AR-MEDCOM Soldiers.”
Kelly credited his family and Soldiers on his promotion. “Any officer or enlisted Soldier, who gets promoted up the ranks, does not do so on his own.”
He talked about three key factors related to success to any of the Soldiers in formation, “One of those and foremost is our family support, my wife, Denise, my mother Bea Kelly is here from Stamford, Connecticut … I thank her for coming down.” He also thanked his aunt and cousin, who traveled from Hobe Sound, FL to be with him on his special day.
Bea, a retired school teacher from St. Cecilia’s School in Stamford, Conn., proudly stated that it was a wonderful day to be here and see all of this happening for him. She went on praising, that elementary school, where she taught for 37 years, has a recognition board of military service members serving in today’s Army and Kelly is displayed in the center of the recognition board.
The second key factor he addressed was mentorship, being responsible for your own career by identifying military mentors to provide guidance along your career path, and the employers in our communities who support our Citizen Soldiers missions.
The third factor, trust and mission focus within our formations, as a commander or leader, the support of each individual from the highest ranking Soldier to the lowest ranking Soldier, working together as a team toward mission success and trusting one another to do their job.
“We as individuals become successful Citizen-Soldiers through the synergy of these three factors,” pointed out Kelly.
Along with his wife and family members, colleagues and friends, some going back as far as the inception of his military career in 1989, attended the change of command ceremony.
“Denise and I truly appreciate your support going forward,” said Kelly, and remarked that he looks forward to working with Command Sergeant Major Estabrooks and his wife, Shana, as a command team for AR-MEDCOM.
“One of the things I enjoyed most being in command of any organization is the command team relationship,” said Kelly. “And the relationship that we develop with the Soldiers across our command and across the Army Reserve and I truly look forward to that opportunity here with AR-MEDCOM.”
Kelly, a native of Stamford, received a direct commission in 1989 in the United States Army Reserve beginning his career as a clinical psychologist in the 883rd Medical Company (Combat Stress Control), for six years.
Throughout his military career, Kelly took on several command assignments, to include, command of the 883rd CSC that mobilized for a year in 2003 to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, receiving the Bronze Star Medal for service during this deployment and a second Bronze Star Medal for his service as commander of the 399th Combat Support Hospital, deploying to Mosul, Iraq in 2006 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom 6. The 399th CSH received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for their successful OIF6 mission. Both units are Massachusetts based.
Kelly, a resident of East Sandwich, Mass., is no stranger to AR-MEDCOM. In 2009, he served as the Commanding General, Medical Readiness and Training Command, San Antonio, Texas, a subordinate command of AR-MEDCOM.
As the Commanding General of the AR-MEDCOM, he employs more than 9,000 Soldiers and Civilians across all 50 states. The command provides trained, equipped and ready, skill-rich Citizen-Soldiers, to meet medical requirements across unified land operations. Dual-hatted, he commands the Reserve Component Soldier Medical Support Center, a command that develops, coordinates, and integrates administrative and medical efforts for the wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers in order to promote future readiness of the force.
Kelly’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Ribbon and Combat Action Badge.
Additionally, he was selected as a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit September 17, 2009 for his contributions to the Army Medical Department.
He was appointed by the Secretary of the Army for three year tenure on the Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee, Washington, D.C., commencing April 1, 2012.
Kelly is an honors alumnus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn., earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1976 graduating Cum Laude. Later, he received a master’s degree and doctorate in psychology from Boston College, Mass., during 1979 and 1983, receiving Magna Cum Laude recognition for both degrees. Kelly received a second masters degree in Strategic Studies July 2007 at the Army War College in Carlisle, Penn.
Kelly is Twice the Citizen, serving as an Army Reserve command general for AR-MEDCOM, as a civilian, Kelly established a full-time independent practice as a health service provider in clinical psychology from 1984 to 1997. Since 1997, Kelly has served as a trial court clinical psychologist in the Barnstable Probate and Family Trial Court, in Barnstable, Mass.