Command Sergeant Major Michael R. Kelly assumed responsibilities as the 15th State Command Sergeant Major of the Illinois Army National Guard in September 2024.
He previously served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard since June 2020.
CSM Kelly enlisted in the Army Reserves in February 1989, completing basic training, Airborne School and Parachute Rigger School. Shortly after completing his initial training, CSM Kelly enlisted in active duty and was assigned to the 5th QM Det (Aerial Delivery) in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Following Desert Storm, he deployed twice to Operations Provide Comfort I & III, conducting the largest humanitarian air drop in history along with sling load operations in Turkey and Northern Iraq. After his tour of duty in Europe, CSM Kelly was then assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Washington where he served in Asia assisting Forward deployed HALO and Scuba Teams.
Upon completion of active duty, he joined the Washington State National Guard as a Bradley Dismount Infantry Team Leader with the 161st Infantry (Mechanized). CSM Kelly then returned to Illinois and served in every leadership position from team leader to CSM with the 131st Infantry Battalion, the 178th Infantry Battalion and as the Chief Operations Sergeant Major of the 244th Digital Liaison Detachment (DLD).
He deployed in 2008-2009 as a First Sergeant with C. Co. 1-178 Infantry at Combat Outpost Najil and FOB Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan. CSM Kelly then redeployed to Afghanistan in 2019-2020 where he was the Task Force Southeast Command Sergeant Major in charge of 7 provinces near the Pakistan border. He served in multiple roles with 1st Armored Division TAC, the 1-178 Infantry BN CSM and as an advisor to the 203rd Afghan National Army (ANA) Corps CSM.
CSM Kelly has worked for the Chicago Police Department for 24 years and currently serves in the Mounted Unit (horse patrol) on crowd control and directed missions. During his career he has also served on the 007th District Tactical Team in the Englewood and as a Patrolman.
He is married to Alaina and has five children: Racquel, Alec, Abigail, Liam and Ava.
MILITARY EDUCATION
2024 Brigade Pre-Command Course
2023 Nominative Leader Course
2021 Distributed Leader Course VI
2016 Battalion Level Pre-Command Course, Camp Lincoln, Illinois
2016 Battle Staff NCO, Camp Williams, Utah
2015 Structured Self Development – Level 5
2014 US Army Sergeants Major Course, Fort Bliss, Texas
2008 First Sergeants Course, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania
2005 Pathfinder Course, Fort Campbell, Kentucky
2006 Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course (ANCOC), Camp Ripley, Minnesota
2003 Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course (BNCOC), Camp Lincoln, Illinois
1998 Jungle Warfare School, Fort Sherman, Panama
1996 Infantry Course, Indiana Regional Training Institute, Indiana
1994 Air Drop Load Inspector Course, Fort Lee, Virginia
1994 Freefall Automatic Ripcord Release Course, Fort Lee, Virginia
1993 Jumpmaster Course, Fort Lewis, Washington
1993 RAM Air Parachute Systems, Fort Lee, Virginia
1992 Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), Baumholder, Germany
1991 Air Assault School, Sickels Army Airfield, Germany
1990 Parachute Rigger, Fort Lee, Virginia
1989 Basic Airborne, Fort Benning, Georgia
1989 Basic Training, Fort Dix, New Jersey
UNITED STATES ARMY
EFFECTIVE DATE OF KEY PROMOTIONS/APPOINTMENTS
SERGEANT January 1994
STAFF SERGEANT November 1999
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS August 2004
MASTER SERGEANT March 2007
FIRST SERGEANT March 2007
SERGEANT MAJOR February 2014
COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR November 2016
ASSIGNMENTS
JUN 20-Present Command Sergeant Major, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
NOV 16-JUN 20 Command Sergeant Major, 1-178th Infantry Battalion
FEB 14-NOV16 Chief Operations Sergeant, 244th Digital Liaison Detachment
OCT 09-FEB 14 First Sergeant, Co C(-) 1-178th Infantry Company
AUG 08-OCT 09 First Sergeant, HHC 1-178th Infantry
MAR 07-AUG 08 First Sergeant, Co C(-) 1-178th Infantry Company
OCT 05-MAR 07 Platoon Sergeant, Det 1, Co C 1-178th Infantry Company
OCT 99-OCT 05 Squad Leader, Co C 1-131st Infantry Company
FEB 96-SEP 99 Fire Team Leader, Co C 1-131st Infantry Company
FEB 95-FEB 96 Team Leader, Co D 3-161st Infantry Company
SEP 90-SEP 94 Parachute Rigger, GSC 1st Special Forces Group
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with four oak leave clusters
Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Superior Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Infantry Badge
Air Assault Badge
Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder Badge
Parachute Rigger Badge
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Illinois Lincoln Medal of Freedom with numeral four
Illinois Long and Honorable Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon with numeral ten
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Liberal Arts, Excelsior College, Magna Cum Laude
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
National Guard Association of Illinois (NGAI)
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United Stated (EANGUS)
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Golden Key National Honor Society (University of Illinois at Chicago)
(Current as of September 2024)