USMA Class of 1970

ROSS S. KELLY

Ross S. Kelly left this life and moved on to another, on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 5:50 p.m. due to respiratory failure. Ross has three children, Ross, Allison, and Caitlin, his wife, Susan, his mother, Jeanne, his brother, Randy and many friends who wish him well on his journey.
Ross was a 1970 graduate of West Point. He had a MA from Georgetown University in Government and National Security Affairs, and he attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1986. Ross was in the U.S. Army from 1970-1982 and in the Army Reserves from 1982-1999, and retired in the rank of Colonel.
Ross' Regular Army assignments included command, intelligence, and operations positions in the mechanized and airborne infantry, armored cavalry, and Special Forces, and as a strategic intelligence officer on the Army Staff. His deployments included service in Vietnam, Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Somalia. His many awards include the Army's Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor, for valor in combat. Ross earned his DSC in 1972 while serving as an advisor to the Vietnamese 6th Paratroop Regiment during the Battle of An Loc.
As a Reserve officer, Ross held key Joint Operations positions in numerous SOCCENT and SOCCEUR deployments. Ross displayed initiative and innovation throughout his military career.
In his civilian career, Ross built a successful security assistance business that supported the Department of Energy and the Defense Industrial base. In 2004, he merged his company with Protection Strategies Incorporated and was instrumental in growing the company from 12 personnel to over 300 today.
Ross celebrated life everyday and showed this through his great sense of humor and story -telling. Ross was an avid reader and a student of military history. He also authored two books on counter-insurgency strategy that are still used in courses at West Point. He will always be remembered for the love he had for his family and his country.
Ross' family will have a private ceremony in North Carolina, and an Irish Celebration of his Life in Great Falls, VA. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans. Please view and sign the family guestbook at
www.adamsgreen.com