He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy, a masters" degree in political science from Auburn University, and also attended Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and the National War College.
Kelley enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in 1959, and was selected to attend the United States. Air Force Academy in 1960, graduating and receiving his commission in June 1964. He served as a base commander and a strategic missile wing commander, was assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the vice-commander of Air Force Space Command, and was the director of public affairs of the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. June 1964 - October 1964, student, Missile Launch and Missile Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
October 1964 - June 1968, deputy missile combat crew commander, and later, missile combat crew commander, 571st Strategic Missile Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
June 1968 - July 1972, requirements officer, payload branch, deputy chief of staff for plans directorate, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
August 1972 - September 1973, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama September 1973 - June 1977, missile staff officer, tactics branch, and later, chief, missile tactics division, Single Integrated Operational Plan Division, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff (Joint Chiefs of Staff), Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
June 1977 - September 1979, member, strategic offensive branch, operations directorate, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, District of Columbia August 1980 - June 1981, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, District of Columbia June 1981 - June 1982, assistant deputy commander for operations, 351st Strategic Missile Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri June 1982 - July 1983, commander, 351st Combat Support Group, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri
July 1983 - June 1985, commander, 381st Strategic Missile Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas
June 1985 - June 1986, assistant chief of staff, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska June 1986 - March 1988, senior military advisor to the director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia April 1988 - June 1988, assistant deputy chief of staff for plans, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado July 1988 - May 1989, deputy chief of staff for operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
June 1989 - April 1990, deputy chief of staff for requirements, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
April 1990 - May 1992, vice commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado May 1992 - October 1992, director of public affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, District of Columbia October 1992 - October 1996, commander, Air University, and director of education, Air Education and Training Command, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
