Kelly Anthony

Kelly joined Aero-Flite in 2022, offering more than 30 years of aviation experience. With a strong safety mindset, he continues to build the safety culture within the team.

Kelly is a retired California Air National Guard Lt Col whose career started as an aircraft mechanic on the KC-135 Stratotanker. His specialty in maintenance as a flight line crew chief and rigging specialist provides a vast breadth of knowledge with regards to safety practices in maintenance operations.

A graduate from Air Command Staff College and Air War Collage, with a Bachelor of Science from Embry Riddle in Professional Aeronautics and minor in Aviation Safety, the majority of Kelly’s career was spent as a KC-135 pilot and then an MQ-1/MQ9 unmanned systems instructor pilot and evaluator. He has gained an immeasurable amount of experience supporting the USFS and other entities in the fight against forest fires utilizing unmanned platforms, providing overhead IR mapping and situational awareness to ground crews.

He became the Chief of Aircrew Training in his Guard unit responsible for all currencies, proficiencies and training. Kelly served as the Wing Chief of Safety, attended the Air Force Accident and Mishap Investigation Course, and was the lead investigator on multiple aircraft incidents and one major accident involving an F-16. As Chief of Safety, he was responsible for the safe operation of an entire Guard unit to include adherence to all flight safety regulations, safety training and all ground safety compliance for over 1000 personnel and 8 aircraft. Kelly served as the Director of Operations for the 160^th Attack Squadron flying training unit, producing over 70 crews per year.

Before joining Aero-Flite, Kelly served as Commander of the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Maintenance Group Commander, and Commander for the 196^th Attack Squadron. Kelly holds a Certified Flight Instructor certificate and is passionate about flying, playing music, the outdoors and most of all spending time with his family.