{"id":33874,"date":"2018-06-22T17:17:15","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T17:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/22\/afsouth-commander-nominated-to-run-air-force-operations\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:59:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:59:49","slug":"afsouth-commander-nominated-to-run-air-force-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/06\/22\/afsouth-commander-nominated-to-run-air-force-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"AFSOUTH commander nominated to run Air Force operations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lt. Gen. Mark Kelly, the commander of the 12th Air Force, has been nominated<\/a> to become the Air Force\u2019s next deputy chief of staff for operations, the Pentagon said<\/a> Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If confirmed<\/a> as A3, Kelly will succeed Lt. Gen. Mark Nowland, who is retiring Oct. 1. The deputy chief of staff for operations determines what requirements, capabilities and training the Air Force needs to carry out its missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelly has led the 12th and Air Forces Southern, or AFSOUTH, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona since October 2016, overseeing all Air Force units in Central and South America and the Caribbean. He is an experienced and decorated command pilot with more than 5,500 hours flying the F-15, F-16, F\/A-18 and F-35A, including 800 hours in combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has received the Defense Superior Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with valor device with oak leaf cluster, and the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelly has held two commands at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. From July 2007 to September 2008, he served as vice commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, and from July 2014 to July 2015, he returned to the 455th as its commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\t