John W. Kiely

Major General John Whelan Kiely enlisted in the Army in 1943. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry, upon graduation from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1944 and served until 1946.  He was commissioned in the regular Army upon graduation from Providence College in 1950. | General Kiely’s early career included assignments as a platoon leader and rifle Company Commander with the 289th Regiment, 75th Division, in Europe in World War II, and subsequent to 1950, duty in Command and Staff positions at Company, Battalion and Regimental levels. From 1952 to 1955 he served as a Company Commander and Battalion Adjutant in the 351st Regiment, Trieste FTT; and as Adjutant, 6th Regiment, Berlin, Germany. He was assigned to the Infantry School Fort Benning, Georgia in 1955 and from 1957 to 1959 he served as Commander of the U.S. Army Ranger Training Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Upon graduation from the Naval War College in 1960 he assumed the position of Assistant G-3, Korean Military Advisory Group from where he was reassigned to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Operation Officer, JACE, J-3. In 1963, he became Chief of Plans, Office Director of Army Budget. Upon graduation from the Army War College, General Kiely was assigned as Chief, Operations Division J-3 Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Upon his return from Vietnam he assumed Command of the 5th CST Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. From 1970 to 1974 General Kiely served in the Office Comptroller of the Army successively as Chief, Operating Forces Division, Office Director of Army Budget; Executive Officer to the Comptroller of the Army; and as Assistant Director of the Army Budget. From 1974 to 28 February 1977 he served as Comptroller, Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau. On 7 February he was confirmed by the United States Senate as Brigadier General Army National Guard of The United States. On 1 March 1977 he was appointed Assistant Adjutant General of Rhode Island. On 6 August 1983 he was appointed The Adjutant General of Rhode Island and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard, and promoted to the grade of Major General, Army National Guard of The United States. Concurrent with his appointment as The Adjutant General he automatically assumed the position of Director, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. | His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster; Joint Services Commendation Medal; Army Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Purple Heart Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Stars; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal (Germany); National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal with three Stars; Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation; Vietnamese Distinguished Service Order (II Class); Combat Infantryman Badge; Ranger Tab; Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge; Army General Staff Identification Badge; Rhode Island Star; Rhode Island National Guard Service Medal; Rhode Island Emergency Service Ribbon with Cluster; Humanitarian Service Medal. | Major General Kiely's civic affiliations include: American Society of Military Comptrollers; Military Order of Foreign Wars; Association of the United States Army; National Guard Association of the United States; Adjutants General Association of the United States; Providence College Alumni Association; George Washington University Alumni Association; Knights of Columbus; Lions International; Council of Historic Commands, Rhode Island; Commissioner and Chairman, Military Committee, Rhode Island Heritage Commission; Commissioner, Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America; Chairman, State of Rhode Island Savings Bond Drive. | Stated occupation on General Kiely's bio is Adjutant General of the State of Rhode Island and Commanding General of the Rhode Island Army and Air National Guard.