DID MARK KELLY SERVE IN THE MILITARY?
The official announcement of Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential race threw the entire country, including both political parties, into a period of uncertainty and chaos. With the 2024 presidential election only 3 months away, this announcement has left the Democrats scrambling to elect a Presidential and Vice Presidential nominee. As of now, it looks like Kamala Harris will take up the mantle of the 2024 Democratic Presidential nominee. Now, all eyes are on who she will select as her VP pick. Senator Mark Kelly is a highly-favored candidate. Let’s take a closer look at his military service, his contributions in government, and how he might shape policy going forward.
Senator Mark Kelly’s Connection to the Navy
Did Mark Kelly serve in the military? Yes, he is a Veteran.Kelly was born February 21, 1964 in Orange, New Jersey. He is the son of two police officers, and has a twin brother, Scott. Growing up, Mark's family struggled, so he worked several jobs and after high school, became an EMT. He attended public schools for his K-12 education through the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He earned his degree in marine engineering and nautical science from the Academy, and his M.S. degree in aeronautical engineering from the Postgraduate School. While in the Navy, Kelly served as a combat pilot. He flew 39 missions in Operation Desert Storm on the USS Midway. He has clocked more than 5,000 flight hours flying over 50 different aircrafts. Additionally, during Mark Kelly’s Navy career, he has received several awards including: the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Legion of Merit, and multiple Air Medals.After serving in the Navy, Senator Kelly was selected as an astronaut for NASA alongside his twin brother. He flew four space missions into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Decades later, he commanded the shuttle’s last mission. In 2011, Kelly retired from NASA and moved to Tucson, Arizona where he served the state in the U.S. Senate.
Who is Mark Kelly, the Potential Democratic VP Nominee
Mark Kelly is a member of the United States Senate, and is associated with the Democratic Party. Senator Mark Kelly has an impressive resume, holding many impressive titles through his life which includes: astronaut, Navy combat pilot, twin, senator, and book author.He first began his political career in 2019, when he made the announcement that he was running for U.S. Senate. The race for senate that year was a special election, as his predecessor, Sen. John McCain had passed away from brain cancer two years prior to the ending of his term.At the time, Gov. Doug Ducey had appointed Jon Kyl as a temporary replacement, but Kyl stepped down shortly after being appointed, thus opening it up for Rep. Martha McSally to replace him during the next Congress. However, she ultimately lost to Kelly, who defeated her by two percentage points.Today, he is known to be a moderate and an Arizona senator. However, before joining the senate, Kelly worked as a NASA astronaut.
Why is Mark Kelly Being Considered for the Ticket?
As of the date of this writing, Mark Kelly is highly favored to be the Vice Presidential nominee for 2024. Several executives and politicians have shown their support for the Navy Veteran, stating that he would be a perfect fit for the Democratic presidential ticket.According to Mike Noble, CEO and founder of Noble Predictive Insights, “Mark Kelly has fantastic numbers of all the elected officials in the entire state of Arizona. Mark Kelly has the best image of all the electorate," he said. "We have four months left. I think there's gonna be some more twists and turns from now until election day, so buckle up, hold on and grab your popcorn."Additionally, when asked about Kelly as a potential VP pick, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii commented, “We’ve got a lot of great choices in front of us, and that’s the first presidential decisions that VP Harris has, so it’s her call, but I think you’re obviously looking for someone who can be a ferocious and crisp communicator.”Only time will tell who secures the VP nominee for the Democratic party, but as of now, all eyes are on Mark Kelly.
How Kelly Might Affect Military Policy as Vice President
During his time in the Senate, Kelly set aside the legislative filibuster in January of 2022 to pass a voting-rights bill that preserved the foundational right to vote. Additionally, during his political career, Kelly advocated for military aid to be sent to Ukraine and Israel. He has also shown support for Taiwan despite tensions being on the rise with China.Senator Mark Kelly has also criticized the Biden administration for allowing the border crisis to get out of hand. Additionally, he has voted to pass a bipartisan border-security bill in 2024. During his time in the Senate, Kelly has worked on the CHIPS and Science Act, which helps fund/bring advanced manufacturing operations into the U.S., thus decreasing dependence on China.While in the Senate, Kelly has been an advocate for mitigating climate change. This is in part due to his background in science and environmental policy. Thus, there is no question that this would be an important issue he’ll address should he become the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee.Mark Kelly’s military career shaped who he is as a politician, senator, and now as the potential Vice Presidential nominee. Additionally, Senator Mark Kelly has implemented policies that help Veterans access their federal benefits including: pensions, life insurance, medical treatment, and educational benefits. If selected as the VP, the military community will be watching as he works to tackle important issues for Veterans.Suggested reads:
