CDSA DAM NECK

Captain Stephen H. Kelley was born in Chicago, IL and raised on the South Side. Originally enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1978, he was assigned to USS GOLDSBOROUGH (DDG 20) as an Operations Specialist before attending the BOOST Program in 1979. He is a 1984 NROTC graduate of Marquette University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.

His at-sea assignments include: Deck Division Officer in USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9); Fire Control Officer in USS BUNKER HILL (CG-52); Combat Systems Officer in USS SCOTT (DDG-995); Maritime Surface Operations Officer, Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight; Surface Operations Officer, Commander U.S. Forces South Atlantic Fleet; and Executive Officer in USS STOUT (DDG-55). During seven deployments, he participated in operations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.

Captain Kelley commanded USS ELROD (FFG-55) from November 2002 until September 2004. Under his command, ELROD was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Assigned to Commander Standing NATO Forces Mediterranean, ELROD conducted maritime interdiction work as part of Operations Active Endeavor and Distinguished Games. Captain Kelley also commanded all Navy at-sea logistics forces in the Middle East as Commander, Logistics Forces, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/CTF-53 from July 2008 until August 2009.

Ashore, he earned Masters of Science degrees in Operations Research from Naval Postgraduate School in 1990, and National Resource Strategy from Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 2002. He was assigned to the Navy Staff (OPNAV) in the Surface Warfare Directorate (N-76) and then the Quadrennial Defense Review Office (forerunner of Deep Blue) from May 1999 to August 2001. Captain Kelley served in the Joint Deployment Operations Division (J-33) of U.S. Joint Forces Command from October 2004 to November 2006. He was assigned to Commander, U.S. Second Fleet as Deputy Director of Operations and Plans (Joint Ops) from November, 2006 until May, 2008.

His personal awards include the Legion of Merit (two gold stars), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two gold stars), the Navy Commendation Medal (four gold stars) and the Navy Achievement Medal (two gold stars).

Captain Kelley is the 25th Commanding Officer to have served at CDSA, Dam Neck.