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Maj. Gen. Trent Kelly, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi, formally retired from the Mississippi Army National Guard on Tuesday at the National Guard Memorial, the NGAUS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
He was Mississippi’s assistant adjutant general-Army.
In Congress, he is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the co-chair of the House National Guard and Reserve Caucus.
The ceremony attracted congressional colleagues from both sides of the aisle and current and former senior military officers, including retired Gen. James C. McConville, the former Army chief of staff (2019-2023), and retired Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, the former National Guard Bureau chief (2020-2024).
“This crowd speaks volumes about Trent Kelly,” said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“He is a true patriot,” he added. “We’re lucky to have him in the House of Representatives. We’re lucky to have him when we go around the world [as members of Congress], because when we see troops — whether they’re enlisted or have a bunch of stars on their shoulders — Trent Kelly understands them, and he’s got their back.
“And Trent Kelly is not finished,” Wicker added. “We’re in an exercise [in Congress] right now that is going to put a Ronald Reagan, peace-through-strength, $150-billion [defense appropriations] shot in the arm to get us back to where we need to be. I’m glad to be your teammate in this.”
Kelly began his military career with the 134th Engineer Company in 1985. His career as an officer began upon graduating from the University of Mississippi and commissioning as an engineer officer in 1988.
He deployed twice to Iraq during the Global War on Terrorism, first as the operations officer for the 150th Engineer Battalion in 2005 and again in 2009 as the battalion commander.
Kelly said leading a battalion into combat “was the most gratifying experience I had in the Guard.”
“And I was fortunate enough to take 670 Soldiers and bring 670 home,” he added. “I don’t know that I’ll ever have an accomplishment in life that is anywhere close to that.”
Kelly also offered some advice for those who are following in his footsteps.
“Choose your mentors well,” he said “Find people you want to emulate or be like but also understand that they’re not perfect and they’re going to have flaws. So, ignore their flaws. Learn from them and don’t repeat them but learn all the good things you can from them.”
Kelly’s retirement leaves just two drilling Guardsmen in the House: Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., an Air Guard lieutenant colonel, and Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., an Air Guard captain.
─ By John Goheen
