Brigadier General Joseph P. Kelly assumed duties as Director, Joint Staff of the Minnesota National Guard in March 2007. As the director, he serves as primary advisor to the Adjutant General on joint matters and is responsible for the operating capability of Minnesota's joint staff. In addition to supervising the joint staff, his responsibilities include recruiting and retention, facilities management, international affairs, emergency response operations, government relations, and strategic planning.

General Kelly was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery, in 1982 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Saint John's University. Prior to taking his commission, he served as an enlisted member of the 1st Battalion 175th Field Artillery. He branch transferred to Armor in 1990, and commanded troop units at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. General Kelly served an active duty tour in 2005 as Chief, Reserve Component Division, Multi-National Corps-Iraq. In 2008, he was the dual-status (Title 10/32) commander of the Joint Task Force that supported the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

EDUCATION:

1983 Saint John's University, Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Collegeville, Minnesota
1999 U.S. Army War College, Defense Strategy Course, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
2003 U.S. Army War College, Master of Strategic Studies, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. June 1982 - December 1983, Fire Support Team Chief, Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 175th Field Artillery, Montevideo, Minnesota
2. December 1983 - November 1984, Fire Direction Officer, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 175th Field Artillery, Ortonville, Minnesota
3. November 1984 - March 1986, Executive Officer, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 175th Field Artillery, Ortonville, Minnesota
4. March 1986 - September 1986, Assistant G3, Headquarters Company, 47th Infantry Division, Saint Paul, Minnesota
5. September 1986 - September 1987, Battalion S1, Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery, Montevideo, Minnesota
6. September 1987 - August 1989, Battalion Fire Direction Officer, Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery, Duluth, Minnesota
7. August 1989 - February 1991, Battalion S1, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 94th Armor, Duluth, Minnesota
8. February 1991- August 1992, Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 94th Armor, Eveleth, Minnesota
9. August 1992 - January 1994, Battalion S3, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 94th Armor, Duluth, Minnesota
10. January 1994 - November 1997, Assistant Civil / Military Operations Officer, State Area Command (-), Saint Paul, Minnesota
11. November 1997 - October 1998, Executive Officer, 1st Brigade (Mechanized) 34th Infantry Division, Stillwater, Minnesota
12. October 1998 - October 2000, Commander, 1st Battalion, 94th Armor, Duluth, Minnesota
13. October 2000 - March 2001, Administrative Officer, State Area Command (-), Saint Paul, Minnesota
14. March 2001 - February 2002, Director of Plans, Operations and Training and Military Support, State Area Command (-), Saint Paul, Minnesota
15. February 2002 - July 2003, Chief of Staff, State Area Command (-), Saint Paul, Minnesota
16. July 2003 - November 2004, Commander, Headquarters Company 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, Stillwater, Minnesota
17. November 2004 - May 2005, Chief, Reserve Component Division, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq
18. May 2005 - March 2007, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters-Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota
19. March 2007 - Present, Director of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters-Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with Bronze Campaign Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
Minnesota Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Gold Star)
Minnesota Medal for Merit
Minnesota Commendation Ribbon with Pendant (with 1 Gold Star)
Minnesota Active Duty Ribbon (with 4 Gold Stars)
Minnesota Distinguished Recruiting Ribbon
Minnesota Service Ribbon (with XXV Device)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 23 May 1982
First Lieutenant 22 May 1985
Captain 21 January 1988
Major 20 January 1993
Lieutenant Colonel 5 February 1998
Colonel 29 June 2001
Brigadier General (Line) 16 October 2007