Robert J. Kelly
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Kelly is a retired United States Navy
four star admiral who served as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet
(CINCPACFLT) from 1991 to 1994.
Kelly's flying career included air combat in Vietnam War
Staff tours included the Naval Postgraduate School
and in the Pentagon
. He was a graduate of the Navy Nuclear Training Program, and went on to command . In April 1983, Enterprise ran aground on a sandbar in San Francisco Bay while returning from deployment and remained stuck there for several hours. While most commanding officers who run aground are almost immediately relieved of command, Kelly went on to flag rank. He served as Vice Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff
, Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies at the National War College
, and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
for Plans, Policy, and Operations. His final naval assignment was as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet
(CINCPACFLT) from 1991 to 1994. He was the senior Naval Aviator
at the 1991 Tailhook incident, and was subsequently recommended for forced retirement by Secretary of the Navy John Dalton
. After retirement, he was the Executive Vice President of The Wing Group, a leading international developer of energy projects. In March 1999, Kelly became the President and Chief Operating Officer
of Energetics, Inc., an energy consulting company and wholly owned subsidiary of the VSE Corporation
. Kelly is the current president of Pensacola Country Club.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
four star admiral who served as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
(CINCPACFLT) from 1991 to 1994.
Biography
Kelly graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1959 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1961.Kelly's flying career included air combat in Vietnam War
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
Staff tours included the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
and in the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
. He was a graduate of the Navy Nuclear Training Program, and went on to command . In April 1983, Enterprise ran aground on a sandbar in San Francisco Bay while returning from deployment and remained stuck there for several hours. While most commanding officers who run aground are almost immediately relieved of command, Kelly went on to flag rank. He served as Vice Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
, Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies at the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
, and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
for Plans, Policy, and Operations. His final naval assignment was as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
(CINCPACFLT) from 1991 to 1994. He was the senior Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
at the 1991 Tailhook incident, and was subsequently recommended for forced retirement by Secretary of the Navy John Dalton
John Dalton
John Dalton FRS was an English chemist, meteorologist and physicist. He is best known for his pioneering work in the development of modern atomic theory, and his research into colour blindness .-Early life:John Dalton was born into a Quaker family at Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth, Cumberland,...
. After retirement, he was the Executive Vice President of The Wing Group, a leading international developer of energy projects. In March 1999, Kelly became the President and Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of Energetics, Inc., an energy consulting company and wholly owned subsidiary of the VSE Corporation
VSE Corporation
VSE Corporation is a diversified technical services company formed in 1959. VSE employs over 2,700 people. Its 2008 and 2009 annual revenues surpassed $1 billion; 2007 revenues were reported at $653 million...
. Kelly is the current president of Pensacola Country Club.