Dr. Kevin Kelly

Biography

Kevin M. Kelly has been a member of the Law School staff since 1998. He was appointed Assistant Dean in 2000 and Associate Dean in 2010, and he currently serves as a Teaching Professor. Professor Kelly holds a B.S. with honors in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, where he studied European History and Diplomacy and earned a Certificate in Russian Area Studies. He also received his J.D. with honors from the University of Wisconsin, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Wisconsin Law Review. Prior to his academic career, he was a criminal defense attorney and served as a staff judge advocate in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. He has extensive experience in military operational law and international law issues. In 2003, Professor Kelly was recalled to active duty to serve as a NATO legal adviser during the Peace Stabilization Force mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He has held various leadership roles in the Navy, including Commanding Officer of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and the U.S. Naval War College's International Law Department. With 32 years of military service, he retired at the rank of Captain. He has been awarded several military honors, including the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal. At the Law School, he teaches courses on Law of Armed Conflict and Wisconsin Legal History and has served on various boards, including the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners.

Research Interests