James A. Kelly

In 1959, Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy. Kelly later earned a M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School in 1968. He graduated from the National War College in 1977. Kelly served in the United States Navy from 1959 to 1982, concluding his active duty as a Captain in the Navy Supply Corps.

From 1994 to 2001, Kelly was president of the Pacific Forum, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) of Honolulu. The Pacific Forum has analyzed and led dialogue on Asia–Pacific political, security, and economic/business issues since 1975. It is the autonomous Pacific arm of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He has served as a Senior Adviser and Distinguished Alumni at CSIS.

From 1989 to 1994, Kelly was President of EAP Associates, Inc., of Honolulu, which provided international business consulting services with an Asia/Pacific focus to private clients. Previously, Kelly served at the White House in Washington, DC as Special Assistant for National Security Affairs to President Ronald Reagan, and as Senior Director for Asian Affairs, National Security Council, from March 1986 to March 1989. From June 1983 to March 1986, Kelly was at the Pentagon as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (East Asia and Pacific)

• U.S. Department of State biography

• CSIS biography
• Appearances on C-SPAN