John F. Kelly facts for kids
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John F. Kelly
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| 28th White House Chief of Staff | |
| Assumed office July 31, 2017 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Joe Hagin Rick Dearborn Kirstjen Nielsen Chris Liddell Bill Shine |
| Preceded by | Reince Priebus |
| 5th United States Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| In office January 20, 2017 – July 31, 2017 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Elaine Duke |
| Preceded by | Jeh Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Kirstjen Nielsen |
| Commander of United States Southern Command | |
| In office November 19, 2012 – January 16, 2016 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Douglas M. Fraser |
| Succeeded by | Kurt W. Tidd |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Francis Kelly
May 11, 1950 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Karen Hernest |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Massachusetts Boston (BA) Georgetown University (MA) National Defense University (MS) |
| Net worth | $4 million |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marines |
| Years of service | 1970–1972 1972–1975 (inactive reserves) 1975–2016 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United States Southern Command 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Multinational Force West |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) with Combat "V" Meritorious Service Medal (2) |
John Francis Kelly (born May 11, 1950) is a retired United States Marine Corps general who is the current White House Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump, since July 31, 2017. He had previously served as Secretary of Homeland Security in the same administration.
Before entering the Trump administration, Kelly had been the commander of United States Southern Command, the unified combatant command responsible for American military operations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. He had previously served as the commanding general of the Multi-National Force West in Iraq from February 2008 to February 2009, and as the commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North in October 2009. Kelly succeeded General Douglas M. Fraser as commander of U.S. Southern Command on November 19, 2012 and was in turn succeeded by Navy Admiral Kurt W. Tidd on January 14, 2016.
Kelly was appointed Secretary of Homeland Security on January 20, 2017, by President Trump. On July 28, 2017, he was appointed to replace Reince Priebus as White House Chief of Staff, taking office on July 31, 2017 shortly after Priebus had officially left his post. At six months, Kelly's term as Secretary of Homeland Security is the briefest in the office's relatively short history.
Personal life
Kelly has been married to Karen Hernest since 1976. They raised three children together: Robert, John Jr., and Kathleen.
On November 9, 2010, Kelly's 29-year-old son, First Lieutenant Robert Michael Kelly, was killed in action when he stepped on a landmine while leading a platoon of Marines on a patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan. The younger Kelly was a former enlisted Marine and was on his third combat tour, his first combat tour as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer. At the time of his death, Robert Kelly was with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Robert Kelly's death made John Kelly the highest-ranking American military officer to lose a child in Iraq or Afghanistan. Kelly's other son is a Marine Corps major.
Images for kids
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Kelly testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee
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Kelly is ceremonially sworn in prior to President Trump's speech at DHS Headquarters on January 25, 2017
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John F. Kelly - Caricature
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