Liberty native honored by Air Force, moving to Robins

Capt. Jeff Kelly, center, receives the 2016 442nd Fighter Wing Officer of the Year Award from Wing Commander Col. Brian Borgen, left, and 442 FW Command Chief Master Sgt. James Nudd at a ceremony at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, April 30. - photo by U.S. Air Force photo

native air force honor — Capt. Jeff Kelly, center, receives the 2016 442nd Fighter Wing Officer of the Year Award from Wing Commander Col. Brian Borgen, left, and 442 FW Command Chief Master Sgt. James Nudd at a ceremony at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, April 30. - photo by U.S. Air Force photo

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. — Capt. Jeff Kelly, a Liberty County native and graduate of the first graduating class at Liberty County High School, is making a name for himself across the Air Force.

Kelly, the chief of public affairs for the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, was recently selected as the Military Officer of the Year for Missouri and served as the keynote speaker at an event to honor him and other award winners at the Lake of the Ozarks on April 23.

In addition to the state honors, Kelly was recently selected as the Public Affairs Company Grade Officer of the Year for all of Air Force Reserve Command, and as Officer of the Year for his Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base.

He was selected this month to return to Georgia and will soon be taking over a position at AFRC Headquarters at Robins Air Force Base.

Kelly has deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan in his 21-year career. He still has relatives who live in Liberty County and the area.