John Francis Kelly (Eng. John Francis Kelly) - American retired general, former head of the US Southern Command (2012-2016). From January 20 to July 31, 2017 - US Secretary of Homeland Security. From July 31, 2017 to January 2, 2019 - Chief of Staff of the White House.
Place of Birth. Education. Kelly was born on May 11, 1950 in Boston, Massachusetts to an Irish Catholic family. He grew up in the Brighton area of Boston.
In 1970 he was drafted into the army and served in the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, in 1972 he was transferred to the reserve with the rank of sergeant. In 1976 he graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, then from the officer school at the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia and received the rank of second lieutenant.
He returned to the 2nd Marine Division as a platoon leader, gradually promoted to the position of company commander. In Mayport, Florida, he was part of the Marine Corps aboard the aircraft carriers Forrestal and Independence.
In 1980, he completed advanced training courses for officers at Fort Benning, from 1981 to 1984, Captain Kelly served at the headquarters of the Marine Corps in Washington, then returned to the 2nd Division.
In 1987 he was promoted to major and received a position at the headquarters of the battalion, and was also sent to the Basic School of the Marine Corps (Quantico), where he headed the offensive tactics section, and later became director of infantry officer courses.
In 1990 he entered the US Marine Corps Command and General Staff College and the School of Combat Excellence, after which, as a lieutenant colonel, he took command of the 1st Lightly Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton.
In 1994 he entered the National War College (Washington), graduated in 1995 and was appointed as a Marine Corps liaison officer in the US House of Representatives, where he was promoted to colonel.
In 1999-2001, he served as a special assistant in the Supreme Allied Command in Europe (Mons, Belgium), then returned to the 2nd Marine Division, now as assistant chief of staff, in 2002 he was transferred to the 1st division later promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
In 2003, as Deputy Commander of the 1st Marine Division, James Mattis, he entered Iraq, in charge of organizing the advance of the regimental battle groups through Iraqi positions. After the capture of Baghdad, he was sent further north as part of the Tripoli Special Forces Group with the task of capturing senior officers of the Iraqi army.
In 2004-2007, he again served in the Headquarters of the Marine Corps, then was promoted to Major General and took command of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, which in 2008-2009 operated in the Iraqi provinces of Anbar and Ninewa.
In 2009-2011, with the rank of lieutenant general, he commanded the Marine Corps Reserve and Northern Command of the Marine Corps, in 2011-2012 he was a senior military adviser to US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
In 2012-2016, he headed the Southern Command of the US Armed Forces, his tasks included combating the flow of drugs, illegal migration from Latin America to the United States, assisting in the training of the Latin American military and eliminating the consequences of natural disasters.
On January 14, 2016, he retired after completing 45 years of military service.
On December 7, 2016, Donald Trump announced to the press his intention to formally offer John F. Kelly the position of Secretary of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security was created after the September 11, 2001 attacks and is responsible for the border and customs service, coast guard, immigration and secret services. According to The Washington Post, Kelly's leadership of the Southern Command was the reason for his nomination. In addition, Kelly himself stated that the situation on the US-Mexico border poses a threat of terrorist infiltration and criticized Barack Obama's intentions to close the Guantanamo Bay prison.
On January 20, 2017, the United States Senate confirmed Kelly's nomination by a majority of 88 votes to 11.
On July 28, 2017, Trump announced the appointment of Kelly as chief of staff to the president, calling the former general's performance as secretary of security brilliant, and himself the "star" of his administration.
On December 8, 2018, President Trump told reporters that Kelly would step down as White House Chief of Staff at the end of the year.
Family. Kelly has been married since 1976 to Karen Hernest. They had three children: Robert, John Jr. and Kathleen. In November 2010, Kelly's youngest son, Marine Corps Lieutenant Robert Michael Kelly, died when he hit a mine during a military operation in Afghanistan. Kelly is the highest ranking American officer to have lost his son in the war. The eldest son of John Kelly also followed in his father's footsteps and serves as a major in the Marine Corps.
May 06, 2024