Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), is a native of New Jersey. He earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Notre Dame and holds two master’s degrees, one in national resource strategy from National Defense University and another in military operational arts and sciences from Air University.

Kelly joined the Air Force in 1989, as a graduate of Notre Dame’s ROTC program. In his 33-year Air Force career, Kelly served in a number of key command and staff positions, including commander, 92nd Mission Support Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.; deputy director, manpower and personnel, Multi-National Security Transition Command, Iraq; director, manpower, personnel and administration, U.S. Southern Command, Fla.; commander, 31st Mission Support Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy; commander, 501st Combat Support Wing, RAF Alconbury, U.K.; director, manpower, personnel and services, Air Combat Command, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.; director, military force management policy for deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services at the Pentagon; and commander, Air Force Personnel Center, JB San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

At the time of his service retirement in 2022, Kelly had completed 3½ years serving as the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services at the Pentagon.

Kelly took over as MOAA's president and CEO in January 2023.