Biography

Trent Kelly, born on March 1, 1966, in Union, Mississippi, is a Republican politician representing Mississippi's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was first elected in a special election on June 2, 2015, following the death of Representative Alan Nunnelee. Kelly resides in Saltillo with his wife, Sheila, and their three children: John Forrest, Morgan, and Jackson. The family attends Saltillo First United Methodist Church.

Education and Political Experience

• Education:

  • Associate of Arts from East Central Community College
  • Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mississippi
  • Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law
  • Master's in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College

• Political Experience:

  • City Prosecutor for Tupelo, Mississippi
  • District Attorney for Mississippi's 1st Circuit Judicial District
  • U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District
    

Military Service

Kelly has served in the Mississippi Army National Guard since 1985, achieving the rank of Major General. His military career includes deployments during Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and two tours in Iraq in 2005 and 2009. He has been awarded two Bronze Stars, the Combat Action Badge, and the Bronze, Silver, and Gold de Fleury medals. In December 2020, Kelly was promoted to Major General, becoming the highest-ranking military official currently serving in Congress.

Congressional Committees

In Congress, Representative Kelly serves on the following committees:

• House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee
• House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
• House Agriculture Committee

His legislative focus includes national defense, agriculture, and intelligence matters.