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JBSA News
NEWS | June 27, 2017

Air Force Personnel Center welcomes next commander

By Staff Sgt. Alexx Pons Air Force Personnel Center

Members of the Air Force Personnel Center gathered as the headquarters guidon was passed from Maj. Gen. Peggy Poore to Maj. Gen. Brian Kelly, signifying the official change of command, June 23.

 

AFPC ensures commanders around the world are provided with skilled Airmen to conduct Air Force and joint missions. Additionally, AFPC executes programs covering the entire life cycle of military and civilian personnel for the Air Force, from accession through retirement, including readiness, growth, development and deployment.

 

Prior to arriving at JBSA-Randolph, Kelly served as the director, military force management policy, deputy chief of staff, manpower, personnel, and services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

 

Kelly entered the Air Force in 1989 as a graduate of the University of Notre Dame’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He has held several command and staff positions at the base, major command, Air Staff and Joint Staff level. His command tours include a mission support squadron and mission support group, along with the 501st Combat Support Wing at Royal Air Force Alconbury, United Kingdom.   

 

Presiding over the ceremony was Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, who expressed her deep appreciation for the diligent work and efforts of Poore and the
AFPC team during her tenure.  

 

Grosso then took a moment to formally introduce Kelly, singling out his career accomplishments and noting the confidence she has in the direction he will take AFPC.

 

“Commanders carry the trust and confidence of the Airmen they are charged to lead,” Grosso said. “To put AFPC’s mission into perspective, airpower does not roar over the skies of Iraq, space power does not triangulate an infantry unit’s grid to provide close-air support, and cyber power does not defend against and deter adversaries from invading critical networks without the dedicated team of AFPC professionals under the leadership of their commander.

 

“While we bid a fond farewell and appreciation to one great leader, we look optimistically toward a new chapter in AFPC’s history as we welcome Maj. Gen. Kelly and his wife,” she continued. “Kelly orchestrated the largest Air Force growth in nearly two decades that increased the size of the force by 8,000 Airmen in a single year. He was the architect of the enlisted evaluation system policy changes, and led his team in spearheading other critical policies that included opening all closed Air Force positions to women, transgender initiatives, expanding pregnancy and paternity leave, and implementing the new Blended Retirement System. Finally, it was Kelly’s numerous trips to Capitol Hill that resulted in the first pilot bonus increase in 19 years – a critical incentive needed in tackling a significant pilot shortage the Air Force is currently experiencing. Not only is Kelly a phenomenal leader, he is a gifted and strategic thinker who I believe will continue to build on this headquarters’ successes.” 

 

As the guidon was formally passed from one leader to the next, Kelly took a moment to address his new team, laying out several expectations and goals that will build upon the past legacy of AFPC triumphs, while ushering the headquarters toward future successes.

 

“It is an honor and privilege to stand here before you all today,” Kelly said. “Looking ahead, I will be tireless in my efforts to take care of this fantastic AFPC family that has been entrusted to me, and I will be equally tireless in helping our AFPC team take care of our total force family. There will be challenges ahead, but I look forward to utilizing all of the skills, expertise, dedication and talent we have here as we strive to fulfill our role in developing Airmen who can support, lead and operate in today’s joint, multi-domain  battlespace.”