Glen Kelly

Wonders Never Cease!

Class of 1977

What I’ve been doing since 1977!

Staying busy.  I married Cindy Smith of Vinson Class of 1977 in 1980.  We have two wonderful children, Erin who is 24 and just Married (on the same days of last Class Reunion)  She and husband Shannon are living in Seattle, Washington, where she works as a professional ballerina.  My son C.G.  is 17 and junior in high school. His team won the State Track Championship last year and he ran on the 4X800m.  He is a 3 year starter on the high school soccer team.  His hope is to attend the United States Military Academy upon graduation.  They are both fine Christians and we could not be prouder of two fine people who always try to do the right thing.

 

This is the opening clip from my current official bio.

 

Colonel Kelly has a varied background and 30 years experience in Special Operations, Army Aviation and Civilian Law Enforcement.  While serving with 10^th Special Forces during Operations Enduring and Iraq Freedom he was one of the first 300 Special Forces Soldiers to infiltrate into Northern Iraq.  COL Kelly while serving with 10^th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force North functioned as a Joint Firepower Officer, The First U.S. Base Commander in Romania, and helped to set up Joint Operation Centers in Romania and Iraq and functioned as a liaison officer to the Military Coordination Command.  As a Joint Firepower Officer for CJSOTF-N during the planning stages of Internal Look. Prior to hostilities helped to develop Standing Operating Procedures (SOPS) and Tactics Techniques and Procedures to reduce the risk of fratricide and to help with the expeditious targeting of High Priority Targets. He attended the final Combined Airforces Operation Center (CAOC) exercise to help in development of these Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) and Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). Worked to ensure commanders intent was utilized during all pre war targeting planning he participated in the final targeting conference for employment of all TLAMS and CALCUMS for the first four days of the air war (Shock and Awe). During this conference he developed the airspace management plan to allow the transition of precision missile munitions through foreign air space while ensuring needed flexibility of all CJSTOF rotary and fixed wing assets along with CAS aircraft in our theater of operation.  COL Kelly was the only Army Officer who participated in the final Targeting Conference for use of TLAM and CALCUMS for the first four days of the air war and while in attendance developed the airspace management plan to allow transition of precision missile munitions through foreign airspace while still enabling the continuous flexible use of Special Operations Aircraft and Close Air Support Aircraft during TLAM launch windows. COL Kelly was selected by the CJSOTF commander to be the first U.S. Base Commander in Romania as a contingency Intermediated Staging Base and area for the Joint Operations Center (JOC).  As it turned out the contingency became the main effort for staging into Iraq; he was tasked with being able to begin receiving the CJSOTF and all supporting units and agencies within six days.   He started in Romania with a staff of 37 personnel and within six days they stood up the base and began receiving personnel.  Within 30 days they had received and were caring for over 4000 personnel when the original base complex had only been set up for 600, the base also received tens of thousands of tons of ordnance and equipment.  The lowest number of sorties by type aircraft into the Romanian former Mig 29 base was seventy-eight Boeing 747 with the C5, C17, C130, and C141 in the thousands by aircraft type.  As the first U.S. Base Commander in Romania he was required to negotiate daily with the Secretary of Romania’s Air Force, or one of his subordinate Army or Air Force Generals. COL Kelly has served in or commanded three Joint Special Operations Task Forces. COL Kelly served as the deputy J3 current ops in CJTF Horn of Africa, which directly intedicted several terrorist networks.  He has commanded at all levels in either Aviation or Special Forces units.  He has commanded Camp Dawson, which currently houses the Joint Interagency Training Center for Homeland Security,   COL Kelly opened a new Army Aviation Base, and was the first Officer in Charge of a state Counter Drug Program and built and commanded a Combat/Assault Helicopter Company with twenty-three aircraft from scratch.  COL Kelly was a rated military aviator in both fixed and rotor wing aircraft (qualified as Attack, Scout and Utility Aviator) and has functioned as a Military Instructor Pilot, Test Pilot and Aviation Safety Officer and was the operations officer for an Attack Helicopter Battalion. By special request of the Defense Attaché from the U.S. Embassy COL Kelly worked through the Office of Defense cooperation  to produce what the Romanian General Staff now calls their Playbook to develop Special Operations Forces in their country this included SOPs TTPs, Curriculum,  POIs, Exercise Type and Schedules for a ten year period.  His training background is quite varied from Counter Terrorist Instructor, Force Protection Instructor Level II, Joint Firepower Control, Joint Targeting, and Senior Mentor NATO Combined Joint Operations Task Force Course to being a Senior Mentor at the first NATO SOF Air Planning Course. COL Kelly holds a Masters of Arts from West Virginia University in Communication Studies with focus on Inter-Cultural Communication.  COL Kelly held a TS/SCI clearance upon retirement.  COL Kelly (Retired) is now working at the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), Joint Center of Excellence (JCOE).

 

My fondest memories of  high school and living in the C-K communities!

The way our communities supported us.  Everyone who wanted to participate in athletics, band, or choir could.  The fact that the boosters made sure that there were enough uniforms for all who wanted to play and that at least on the football team the only way out was to quit, there were no cuts.  This is unique in all I have heard from others who have played at the high school level from other places around the country.  I learned more about leadership from Carl Ward, Dale Craycraft and Barry Scragg than all the schools the Army ever sent me to. It truly was a special place and time, truly in a sense,  An American Sparta.  It is sad that politics took the heart of four communities in Wayne county.  Dreamland Pool was truly my favorite place in the summer with all the great people and super volleyball and basketball, and of course where I met the love of my life wearing a very nice orange bikini with the most beautiful long blonde hair.  I do have to mention all of the great folks in the school choir, I had a great time with all those fine folks.  The Youth for Christ Group, Athletes in Action were good times as well and for you guys in the Chess Club, was I the only guy to beat Phil Smith ever? (If only twice).