Gen. Mark D. Kelly is the Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. As the
commander, he is responsible for organizing, training, equipping and maintaining combat-ready air, space, cyber and intelligence forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense. The command operates more than 1,000 aircraft, 35 wings, 12 bases, and 1,336 units at more than 242 operating locations worldwide with 156,739 total force military and civilian personnel. As the lead major command for Combat Air Forces, ACC develops strategy, doctrine, concepts, tactics, and procedures for air, space, and cyber-power employment. The command provides conventional and information warfare forces to all unified commands to ensure air, space, cyber, and information superiority for warfighters and national decision-makers. The command also stands ready to assist national agencies with intelligence, surveillance and crisis response capabilities.

Kelly entered the Air Force in 1986, receiving his commission from the Air Force ROTC program at Southwest Texas State University. He earned his pilot wings at Euro- NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Gen. Kelly has commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, an expeditionary wing and two Numbered Air Forces.

Gen. Kelly is a command pilot with more than 6,000 flying hours, including over 800 combat hours in fighter aircraft.

MAJOR AWARDS AND HONORS
Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross with “V” device with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Royal Australian Air Force Chief of Staff Gold Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with silver and four bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal

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