Chairman—SASC Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities

Mark Kelly, D-Arizona

 

Responsibilities

  • Kelly chairs a Senate panel that oversees the programs, and policy decisions related to intelligence, counterterrorism, and homeland security. In addition, the subcommittee addresses the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, along with illegal drugs, terrorism, and information warfare.

Political/Professional Career

  • Flew the first of four missions into space in 2001 aboard the shuttle Endeavour.
  • Retired from the Navy and NASA after commanding Endeavour’s final mission in 2011.
  • A Navy captain, aviator and test pilot, Kelly flew multiple combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. Made two deployments on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway during the Persian Gulf War. Flew 39 combat missions.
  • Formerly an aerospace consultant and executive, Kelly served on the advisory board of Boom Technology. He also co-founded World View Enterprises, a Tucson-based, near-space exploration and technology company. In 2017, he registered Kelly Aerospace Consulting, an Arizona-based LLC he formed for his speaking engagements and other related work.
  • Author of several books, two of which he wrote with his wife, the former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She was shot and nearly killed in an assassination attempt in 2011 that claimed the lives of six people.
  • Co-founded the nonprofit Americans for Responsible Solutions, an organization and political action committee aimed at reducing gun violence.
  • A junior senator, Kelly is up for re-election in 2022.

Background

 

Education

  • Naval Postgraduate School – M.S. in aeronautical engineering (1994).
  • Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY – B.S. in marine engineering and nautical science. Graduated with honors in 1986.

Personal

  • Mark Edward Kelly was born on Feb 21, 1964, in Orange, NJ, to Richard and Patricia (née McAvoy) Kelly, two retired police officers.
  • His identical twin Scott Kelly is also a retired astronaut. They are the only siblings to have both traveled in space.
  • He lives in Tucson with his wife Gabby. They have two daughters.