Fort Jackson commander receives 2nd star
February 12, 2024
The U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson commander will be promoted to the rank of Major General in a ceremony at 8:00 a.m., February 14th, at the Fort Jackson Headquarters.
Brig. Gen. Jason E. Kelly will receive his second star and the title, Major General, in a ceremony hosted by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Commanding General, Gen. Gary M. Brito.
Brig. Gen. Kelly assumed command as the 53rd Commanding General of the United States Army Training Center & Fort Jackson on August 31, 2022, after serving as the commanding general of the South Atlantic Division, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. As Fort Jackson’s commanding general, Brig. Gen. Kelly oversees the largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center in the U.S. Army, training roughly 50 percent of all Soldiers and 60 percent of women entering basic combat training each year. In addition to basic combat training, Fort Jackson is also home to the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy, the Soldier Support Institute Army Sustainment University Adams Campus, Leader Training Brigade, and Institute for Religious Leadership in addition to other Department of Defense organizations.
Brig. Gen. Kelly, a native of Flint, Michigan, attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and graduated in 1994 with a commission as an Engineer officer.
He has held leadership positions from platoon to brigade, including Commander, 20th Engineer Battalion in Afghanistan; Deputy Commander, 36th Engineer Brigade during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn; Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division; Assistant Operations Officer, 10th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division; Adjutant, 44th Engineer Battalion and the 2nd Infantry Division Engineer Brigade in Korea; Plans Officer, 4th Infantry Division Engineer Brigade; and Line Platoon Leader, Assault and Obstacle Platoon Leader; and Company Executive Officer, 588th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Division.
Other key assignments include participation in the Army’s Advanced Civil Schooling Program, with duty as an advanced calculus instructor in the Department of Mathematics, U.S. Military Academy; Aide-De-Camp to the Superintendent, U.S. Military academy; and assignments to the Pentagon in the Office of the Chief of Engineers.
Brig. Gen. Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from West Point, a master’s degree in engineering management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, a master’s degree in statistics from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in joint campaign planning and strategy from the National Defense University, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.
He is a graduate of the Joint Advanced Warfighter School, Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Sapper Leader Course, as well as the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses. He is also a certified project management professional.
General Kelly is married to Stephanie Kelly. They are the proud parents of two sons, Jacob and Zachary.
