[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1794-E1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATIONS TO COL. RONALD T. KELLY, USAF

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 1997

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 
dedication, public service, and patriotism of Col. Ronald T. Kelly, 
U.S. Air Force, on the occasion of his retirement after a career of 
faithful service to our Nation. Col. Ron Kelly's strong commitment to 
excellence will leave a lasting impact on the vitality and capability 
of our Air Force war fighters. This commitment and the manner in which 
he fulfilled it commands admiration and respect from his military and 
civilian colleagues alike.
  Colonel Kelly, a 1970 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy is 
serving his last assignment in the Air Force as Chief of the Air Force 
Special Operations Division, Directorate of Operations and Training, 
Deputy Chief of Staff Air and Space Operations, in the Pentagon.
  After he completed undergraduate navigator training as a 
distinguished graduate in 1971, he flew as a C-130 squadron navigator 
at Forbes AFB, KS, in the 48th Tactical Airlift Squadron. In 1972 he 
was selected to upgrade to an MC-130 combat Talon navigator

[[Page E1795]]

and served in the 1st Special Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan 
until December 1973. From 1974 to 1976 he was an instructor navigator 
at Mather AFB, CA, flying the T-29 and T-43 aircraft.
  He attended the School of Engineering at the Air Force Institute of 
Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, OH, and received a master's of 
science degree in astronautical engineering in 1977. He followed with a 
directed duty assignment to Sunnyvale AFS, CA where he became the 
Deputy Mission Director for Low Altitude Satellite Programs at the Air 
Force Satellite Control Facility.
  He returned to flying duties in special operations in 1981 and became 
operations officer for the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt 
Field, FL, flying the MC-130E.
  From 1985 to 1986 he attended the Industrial College of the Armed 
Forces at Fort McNair and was subsequently assigned to the Pentagon in 
1986.
  He served as the special operations programmer on the Air Staff and 
was the primary implementer for major force program 11 for the Air 
Force. In November 1987 he was selected to be the first military 
assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations 
and Low-Intensity Conflict. While in this office, he worked as the 
Assistant for Resources and Assistant for Logistics.
  In 1991 he returned to Hulburt Field, FL, as the Director of 
Acquisition Management for Headquarters Air Force Special Operations 
Command where he supervised the acquisition of Air Force resources in 
support of special operations. He was assigned to his present job as 
the Chief of the Special Operations Division in August 1993.
  Colonel Kelly is a master navigator with over 4,000 hours total 
flight time of which 380 hours were in combat. His decorations include 
the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the 
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak 
leaf cluster, the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, and the Air 
Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster. He has also been 
awarded the Senior Missileman Badge.
  He is married to the former Pamela Stark of Sacramento, CA. They have 
a daughter Erin who is a freshman at James Madison University and a son 
Sean who is a freshman at Oakton High.
  Our Nation, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force, and his 
family can truly be proud of the colonel's many accomplishments. He is 
a true gentleman of extraordinary talent and integrity. While his 
honorable service will be genuinely missed in the Department of 
Defense, it gives me great pleasure to recognize Col. Ronald T. Kelly 
before my colleagues and wish him all of our best in his future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________