Brigadier General James A. Kelley has been appointed chief of staff of the Headquarters, U.S. Army Reserve Command at Fort McPherson. He reported to his new assignment July 9.

Brigadier General Kelley 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, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. There he served as a tank platoon leader, tank company executive officer and scout platoon leader.

Next, Brigadier General Kelley was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as the aide-de-camp to the assistant division commander for maneuvers. After completing flight school in 1979, he was assigned to the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment, Germany. In the 2nd ACR he 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 2nd Squadron, 10th Cavalry. There he commanded D Troop and subsequently became the squadron executive Officer. In 1986, Brigadier General Kelley attended the Armed Forces Staff College, followed by a joint assignment at Langley Air Force Base, VA.

Brigadier General Kelley returned to the 7th Infantry Division in 1989 where he served as the aviation brigade operations Officer for the planning and execution of Operation Just Cause in Panama. He later became the brigade executive Officer.

In 1992, Brigadier General Kelley was placed in command of 3-17 Cavalry Squadron of the 10th Mountain Division. During his assignment the unit deployed for Hurricane Andrew relief operations in South Florida and later Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.

After graduating from the School of Information Warfare and Strategy at the National Defense University in 1994, he became the branch chief to the information operations division in the office of the deputy chief of staff for operations, Headquarters, Department of the Army.

Brigadier 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 as the assistant deputy chief of staff for Operations, Civil Affairs and Plans, Forces Command. He served in this role during the September 11th attacks and the early stages of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom until his selection as the USARC Chief of Staff.

His education includes a Master's of Business Administration from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, and a Master's of Information science from the National Defense University.

Brigadier General Kelley's awards include the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Unit Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Senior Aviator Badge and Air Assault Badge.

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