[4] He was also a graduate of the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, also in Washington, D.C. Kelley entered primary flying training at Bainbridge Air Base, Georgia in August 1956 and completed basic flying training at Greenville AFB, Mississippi, earning his wings in September 1957.

His first operational assignment was as an F-100 pilot with the 461st Fighter-Day Squadron of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hahn Air Base, West Germany.

In May 1959, Kelley joined the 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, also in West Germany, serving as a Special Weapons Officer and becoming a Select Crew member.

Following three years at the academy, Kelley completed F-4 combat crew training (with "Top Gun" award) at Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona.

En route to Southeast Asia, he completed the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (with Flying Award) at Nellis AFB.

His responsibilities included the Air-to-Air Weapons Evaluation program, Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation, Continental Operations Range and MCM 3-1 issues.

In March 1979, he took command of the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis AFB and also served as chairman of the executive committee Multinational Test and Evaluation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Kelley was appointed the ninth Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, in June 1981, and served for two years.

Kelley served as a director of The Canon Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, and President of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.