He was the founding executive director of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C.
[1] Kelly was a captain in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps Reserve.
[2] In other roles, Kelly worked as Legislative Counsel to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Department of Justice.
[3][2] In this position, he was the State Department's primary contact with the Holy See and other nations on matters of religious freedom.
[3] In 2006 he became the Order's vice president for Public Policy, and served as the executive director of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., which is owned and operated by the Knights, from 2011 to 2020.
[6] In the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in 2022, Kelly said, "In a post-Roe world, the Knights will continue to be there for mothers and their children, and we will continue to proclaim the dignity of every human life.”"[7] Kelly also said, "Roe v. Wade is finally gone.
"[8] Kelly expressed support for a program started by the Knights in 2019 to donate ultrasound machines to pregnancy centers.
"[8] Kelly launched a program called Cor in 2022, his first full year as the order's Supreme Knight.