John Francis Kelly
Date of Birth: 11.05.1950
John Francis Kelly - a retired U.S. General, former head of the U.S. Southern Command (2012-2016). From January 20 to July 31, 2017, he served as the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. From July 31, 2017, to January 2, 2019, he was the head of the White House Office.
Birthplace. Education. Kelly was born on May 11, 1950, in Boston, Massachusetts, into an Irish Catholic family. He grew up in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston.
In 1970, he was drafted into the Army and served in the 2nd U.S. Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, being discharged in 1972 at the rank of Sergeant. In 1976, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, then attended the Marine Corps Officer School in Quantico, Virginia, where he received the rank of Second Lieutenant.
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He returned to the 2nd U.S. Marine Division as a platoon leader and gradually advanced to a company commander. In Mayport, Florida, he was enrolled in units of the Marine ships 'Forrestal' and 'Independence'.
In 1980, he completed officer training courses at Fort Benning, and from 1981 to 1984, Captain Kelly served at the Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, then returned to the 2nd U.S. Marine Division.
In 1987, he was promoted to Major and took a position in the staff battalion, also serving at the Basic School of the Marine Corps (Quantico), where he led the tactics department and later became the director of officer training.
In 1990, he began attending the Command and Staff College of the U.S. Marine Corps and the School of Advanced Warfighting and took command of the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion of the 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton after completing service as Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1994, he entered the National War College (Washington), graduated in 1995, and was appointed as a communication officer of the Marine Corps in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was promoted to Colonel.
From 1999 to 2001, he served as a special assistant at NATO's Supreme Headquarters in Europe (Mons, Belgium), then returned to the 2nd U.S. Marine Division, this time as Deputy Chief of Staff, was transferred to the 1st Division in 2002, and later promoted to Brigadier General.
In 2003, he entered as Deputy Commander of the 1st U.S. Marine Division under James Mattis in Iraq, overseeing the organization of advances by task forces through Iraqi positions. After the capture of Baghdad, he was sent north with a special force 'Tripoli' to capture high-ranking officers of the Iraqi army.
From 2004 to 2007, he served again at the Marine Corps Headquarters, then was promoted to Major General and took command of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Corps, which operated in the Iraqi provinces of Anbar and Nineveh from 2008 to 2009.
From 2009 to 2011, he commanded the Marine Corps reserves and the Marine Corps Northern Command as a Lieutenant General, from 2011 to 2012 he was the Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
From 2012 to 2016, he led the U.S. Southern Command, where he fought against drug trafficking, illegal immigration from Latin America to the U.S., trained Latin American militaries, and addressed the consequences of natural disasters.
On January 14, 2016, he retired, concluding 45 years of military service.
On December 7, 2016, Donald Trump announced his intention to offer John F. Kelly the position of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security was established after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and is responsible for the Border Protection Agency, the Coast Guard, immigration, and intelligence services. According to The Washington Post, Kelly led the Southern Command and was the reason for his nomination. Furthermore, Kelly himself stated that the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border posed a terrorism threat and criticized Barack Obama's intentions to close the Guantanamo prison.
On January 20, 2017, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kelly's appointment by a vote of 88 to 11.
On July 28, 2017, Trump announced Kelly's appointment as head of the presidential office, calling the former general's performance as Secretary of Homeland Security exceptional and labeling him a 'star' of his administration.
On December 8, 2018, President Trump informed reporters that Kelly would resign as head of the White House by the end of the year.
Family. Kelly has been married to Karen Hernest since 1976. They have three children: Robert, John Jr., and Kathleen. In November 2010, Kelly's youngest son, Marine Lieutenant Robert Michael Kelly, died in a mine explosion during a military operation in Afghanistan. Kelly is the highest-ranking U.S. officer to have lost his son in war. John Kelly's eldest son also followed in his father's footsteps and serves as a Major in the Marine Corps.
05.10.2022