WarriorMagazineJanuary2021

Alum Rep. Trent Kelly becomes highest ranking military official in U.S. Congress

The Mississippi National Guard recently promoted U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly to the rank of major general and designated him as the assistant adju- tant general of the Mississippi Army National Guard, making him the high- est ranking military official currently serving in Congress. Kelly, a Republican from Saltillo who represents Mississippi’s 1st Con- gressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and formerly served as a district attorney in Northeast Mississippi, has more than 35 years of military experience. “Trent Kelly is no stranger to service,” Gov. Tate Reeves said at the ceremony. “It’s been his life. That’s right, his life has been about service to others.” A native of Union, Kelly enlisted in the National Guard at the age of 19 in 1985. He mobilized for Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2009. While seeming to hold back tears at times, Kelly thanked his family for their support during his military ser- vice and said, even though his career in public life is important to him, he would never have run for Congress if he could not serve simultaneously in the National Guard. “This means more to me,” Kelly said of his military service. “Serving this great state, serving this great nation in uniform means more to me than what I can do as a civilian.” The third-term congressman has now reached the same military rank as G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery, who represented Mississippi in the House from 1967 to 1997 and retired from the National Guard in 1980 with the rank of major general. Kelly said he did not know Mont- gomery well, but he has long viewed him as one of his role models because of his simultaneous service to the National Guard and public life. The promotion ceremony marked the second time Kelly has received a promotion while serving in the House. In 2018, Kelly was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. “In honor of you, congratulations,”

Submitted Photo

Morgan Kelly (left) and her brother John Forrest Kelly change the epaulets on the uniform of their father, Maj. Gen. John “Trent” Kelly to reflect his promotion to major general during a ceremony at the Mississippi National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Jackson. With the promotion, Kelly became the highest ranking military official serving in the U.S. Congress.

Rep. Alan Nunnelee, Kelly won the 1st Congressional District seat in a 2015 special election and has served in Congress since. This past November, he was re-elected to the first congres- sional seat. He was sworn into office in January to serve his fourth term in the House, where he is expected to sit on the armed service, agriculture and small business committees. - Article courtesy of Taylor Vance, political reporter, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

said Maj. Gen. Janson Boyles, the adjutant general of the Mississippi Na- tional Guard. “And from all of us who wear the uniform with you, we are so honored to be here for this moment in your career.” Kelly’s educational background includes an associate degree from East Central Community College, a bach- elor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Mississippi, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. Kelly’s family includes his wife of 30 years, Sheila Kelly, and children John Forrest, Morgan and Jackson. Following the death of former U.S.

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