Founder | LIEUTENANT - COLONEL (RETIRED) UNITED STATES ARMY.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Eric Denson Kelley (Eric) is a first-generation Washingtonian. Eric was born at the historic Providence Hospital in Washington, DC on the 170th anniversary of the Nations Capitol’s founding on Saturday, July 16, 1960.
Eric attended the District of Columbia Public Schools, and in 1975, Eric received an invitation to audition for the Instrumental Music Department at the Nation Capitols prestigious Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington School of the Performing Arts (Duke Ellington School of the Arts – DESA). Eric was accepted into DESA in June of 1975. In his senior year at DESA, Eric composed the musical composition for solo jazz/classical guitar, ‘The Apology’ Eric graduated DESA in June of 1978, in the first full DESA graduating class.

Eric attended the Prince Georges Community College (PGCC) from 1979through 1980, majoring in Music, and performing in recitals at PGCC, in addition to studying privately with world renowned jazz and blues guitarist, the late Bill Harris in Washington, D.C.

Eric enlisted in the United States Army’s Delayed Entry Program in June of1980. Eric (now Private Eric D. Kelley) reported for Basic Training (BT) and Advance Individual Training (AIT) in October of 1980. Having successfully graduated BT and AIT (as a Motor Transport Operator), Private Kelley departed for Idar/Oberstein Germany in January of 1981. Private Kelley was assigned to the historic 8 TH Infantry Division (“Pathfinder”) MECHANIZED, 2/81 ST Field Artillery (FA), Strasberg Kaserne, Service Battery, Subcommunity of Baumholder, Germany.

In February of 1982, Specialist Kelley’s only brother, Gerald Bernard Kelley, was killed in Washington, D.C. The United States Army granted Specialist Kelley a hardship reassignment (being his parents only surviving male heir), and Specialist Kelley was reassigned to the Military District of Washington (MDW). In July of 1982, Specialist Kelley was assigned to the Directors Staff, the Defense Logistics Agency, Cameron Station, Alexandria, Virginia. Specialist Kelley had the distinct honor to serve the last frogman from World War II, serving on Active Duty, Vice Admiral Eugene Andrew Grinstead, Junior, Director, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, PENTAGON.

In 1983, Specialist Kelley complete his assignment at DLA, and went on to serve as a Drill Sergeant with the United States Army Reserves 80 TH Training Division. Corporal (Acting Sergeant) Kelley joined the District of Columbia Army National Guard (DCARNG) in September of `1987. From September of 1987 through December of 2004, Corporal (Acting Sergeant) Kelley rose in the ranks from enlisted Staff Sergeant (SSG) to Officer Candidate School Graduate (1991) as a Second Lieutenant (2LT). 2LT Kelley served in increasing roles of responsibility and distinction culminating with his promotion to MAJOR (MAJ) in June of 2004.

In June of 1998, 1LT Kelley graduated from Park College (now Park University) with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management. In June of 2000, 1LT Kelley graduated from The National Graduate School at Falmouth, Massachusetts with a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management.

In January of 2005, MAJOR Kelley was elected for an Active -Duty tour with the National Guard Bureau (NGB). IN July of 2008, MAJOR Kelley was selected for duty in the PENTAGON’s Army Operation Center/Crisis Action Team/National Military Command Center as an NGB Liaison Officer. While in this role, MAJOR Kelley also served simultaneously as the NORTHERN COMMAND (NORTHCOM) Desk Officer for an eight-month period.

In July of 2011, MAJOR Kelley completed his Active-Duty tour with NGB and transferred into the United States Army Reserve (USAR). MAJOR Kelley was immediately promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) and selected for an Active-Duty tour with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

In February of 2012, LTC Kelley deployed to Kandahar Afghanistan, serving as the Joint Chief of Logistics (J4), and the Joint Chief of Operations (J3) simultaneously for the Defense Intelligence Support Office – Kandahar (DISO-K), Area 59, DIA. LTC Kelley also served in the roles of Postmaster and Technical Contracting Officer Representative (TCOR) during this deployment.

In February of 2012, LTC Kelley deployed to Kandahar Afghanistan, serving as the Joint Chief of Logistics (J4), and the Joint Chief of Operations (J3) simultaneously for the Defense Intelligence Support Office – Kandahar (DISO-K), Area 59, DIA. LTC Kelley also served in the roles of Postmaster and Technical Contracting Officer Representative (TCOR) during this deployment.

In November of 2012, LTC Kelley redeployed to DIA Headquarters, Washington, DC, where he interviewed and recruited DIA personnel for logistics deployment assignments. LTC Kelley was also an integral part of DIA’s Middle East Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration (RSOI) operations. From October 2013 to October 2014, LTC Kelley served in a classified position for DIA with duty at the PENTAGON.

In January of 2015, LTC Kelley was selected as a Strategic Planner, J5, with the USCYBERCOMMAND, National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. In September of 2015, Headquarters, Department of the Army selected LTC Kelley to Command the 327 TH Quartermaster Battalion (327 TH QM BN), USAR, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

LTC Kelley commanded the 327 TH QM BN from September 2015 to September 2017, with the Battalion exceeding every category in the United States Army’s Unit Climate Profile (UCP) and placing Number 1 out of 24 Battalions, on both the East and West Coast, for the USAR’s 2017 Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise (QLLEX) 2017.

Due to his unmatched and exemplary performance as Battalion Commander of the 327 TH QM BN, LTC Kelley was by-name selected for an Active-Duty tour with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in November of 2017 as a Deputy Division Chief. LTC Kelley served in this role with distinction until his retirement from Active-Duty in August of 2020.

LTC Kelley achieved many notable significant firsts during his stellar 40-year ARMY, ARMY Reserve, and ARMY National Guard career:

• Recipient of the Joint Services Commendation Medal at age 23

• Simultaneously serving on an Active Guard Reserve tour while attending and graduating from Officers Candidate School

• Being selected to serve in an Active-Duty Special Works (ADSW) assignment in a MAJORs position as the DCARNGs Counterdrug Programs Operations while at the rank of a Second Lieutenant (2LT)

• Being selected to serve in an ADSW COLONELs position as the DCARNGs Counterdrugs Programs Military Liaison to the Mayor of DC while at the rank of a 2LT.

• Serving as the Program Manager for the NGBs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the PAARNGs transformation of the 28 TH Brigade into the 56 TH Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

• Serving three tours at the PENTAGON in the Army Operation Center/Crisis Action Team/Military Command Center with two of those tours being by-name requests from General Officers. Also, simultaneously manning two desks as a Military Liaison for an eight-month period.

• Simultaneously serving in two critical Joint assignments (J3, Chief of Operations, and J4, Chief of Logistics) in a Theatre of War, a combat environment. Having personally received the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal (NIMUC) from the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

• While in Battalion Command, the 327 TH QM BN exceeded every category of the United States Army’s Unit Climate Profile (UCP), and placed number one out of 24 Battalions (both East and West coasts) during a MAJOR military exercise.

• After successfully completing Battalion Command, being by-name selected for an Active-Duty tour with one of the Nations premier Defense Protection agencies.

• Having been promoted through the ranks from E-1 Private to Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army.

• In February of 2021, LTC (Retired) Kelley (Eric) was selected as a civilian, Federal Government, to become the Logistics Manager for the White House Situation Room (WHSR), White Special Support Staff (WHSSS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), National Security Council (NSC). Eric served in this capacity from February through June of 2021. Eric previously served as a civilian Federal Government employee in the roles of Acting Certifying Officer forNaval Supply Systems Command, Crystal City, Virginia, and as the Facility Manager for the DC Armory/DCARNG, Washington, DC.

In October of 2022, Eric founded the CHIA of Leadership Institute. The CHIA of Leadership Institute focuses on four essential components of the successful leader, Character, Honor, Integrity, and Authenticity. The CHIA of Leadership addresses these components through multi-faceted approach; professional speaking, one-on-one (and group) coaching, mentoring, developing, education through workshops and corporate seminars, and a curriculum that is directed to identifying and nurturing the future leaders from Pre-school through college.

Eric is also a certified Demonstrated Master Logistician by the International Society of Logistics (SOLE), a certified Strategic Planner by the United States Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

• The United States Army Military Intelligence Corps Knowlton Award

• The United States Army Transportation Corps Regiment The Ancient Order of the Saint Christopher Medal

• The National Infantry Association The Order of the Saint Maurice Medal

• The United States Army Association of Quartermasters The Honorable Order of the Saint Martin Medal

Eric is the most Senior and most decorated military officer to have graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and is a 2014 graduate of the National Speakers Academy, Washington, DC Chapter.