Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 2, 1993 TAG: 9304020413
SECTION: FOUNDERS DAY PAGE: FD-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
LT. GEN THOMAS KELLY TO KEYNOTE CELEBRATION
Lieutenant General Thomas Kelly, a familiar and reassuring figure to millions of Americans during the Persian Gulf War, will be the keynote speaker at this year's Founders Day celebration on the Virginia Tech campus.Kelly, who was director of operations for the Join Chiefs of Staff during the Allied operations in Kuwait and Iraq, brings to Virginia Tech a unique message about the value and importance of Virginia's system of higher education from the perspective of a national leader and concerned parent of a Virginia Tech student. He will address faculty, students, parents and the general public in Burruss Hall Auditorium on Friday, April 2, at 3 p.m.
During the past year, Kelly has served as a founding member of the Virginia Tech Parents Advisory Board. His daughter, Elizabeth, is a junior in English.
General Kelly recently retired from his assignment with the Joint Chiefs. Prior to that assignment, Kelly has served as commanding general, United States Army Security Affairs Commmand. He has also held numerous other positions, including commander of the 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor, 1st Infantry Division; assistant chief of staff of plans and policy in Southern Europe for NATO; and director of the Joint Special Operations Agency for the Joint Chiefs.
Since his retirement from the U.S. Army, Kelly has served as an adjunct professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at The George Washington University in Washington D.C. He is also a consultant for the National Broadcasting Company and serves of the Board of Directors for the ENRON Corporation.
Kelly was highly decorated for his service in the Army. He has received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, The Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
The Philadelphia native completed his studies at the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Temple University, was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. He has also received additional education at the Armor School, the Infantry School, the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United State Army War College. He was also awarded an honorary Ph.D.
Kelly's speech is free and open to the public.