Lieutenant Colonel Chad Kelling is a native of Milwaukee, WI. He attended and completed his undergraduate education at the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in History. Following graduation, he commissioned in the Marine Corps in May 2009 and subsequently attended the Basic Officer’s Course in Quantico, VA. After graduation from TBS, he served as an Assistant Staff Platoon Commander for the Naval Academy Marine Summer Training Program and attended the Center for Advanced Culture Learning (CAOCL) language course, studying Modern Standard Arabic from July - December 2010. Upon completion of the language studies, he reported to NAS Pensacola for flight training, receiving his wings and designation as a naval aviator in September 2012, and reported to the MV-22 Fleet Replacement Squadron (VMMT-204) at MCAS New River for follow on training.
After finishing the FRS flight training, Lieutenant Colonel Kelling reported to VMM-263 as the Aviation Life Support System OIC in March 2013. He deployed with the 22d MEU with the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group to the 6th and 5th Fleet AORs from February to October 2014. During this deployment, he participated in multiple exercises in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. Returning from the MEU, he was subsequently assigned as the Current Operations Officer and deployed to Special Purpose MAGTF - Crisis Response Africa (SPMAGTF-CR AF) 16.1 from January 2016- August 2016. After returning from deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Kelling attended Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-17 and was assigned as the Pilot Training Officer. In March 2018, he deployed again with VMM-263 to SPMAGTF-CR AF 18.2 as the Assistant Operations Officer and Quality Assurance Officer, supporting diplomatic and military operations within the EUCOM and AFRICOM AO.
In July 2018 Lieutenant Colonel Kelling reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1), Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. While with MAWTS-1 he served as an MV-22 instructor pilot, Assistant Academics Officer, and MV-22 Division Head, supporting five WTI courses as an instructor pilot. At the end of his tour at MAWTS-1, he was selected for command of Recruiting Station Raleigh from June 2021 – June 2023. At the completion of this command, he was assigned to the Red Dragons of VMM-268 at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, serving as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer. During this time, he deployed with the ACE for Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, conducting exercises and operations in Australia and throughout INDOPACOM. He reported to MAG-26 in April 2025 in preparation to assume command of the Golden Eagles of VMM-162.
Lieutenant Colonel Kelling has logged over 1800 mishap-free flight hours, including over 1600 hours in the MV-22. His military education includes the Basic School, Naval Flight Training, MV-22 Flight Training, the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, the Expeditionary Warfare School and Marine Corps Command and Staff College Distance Education Programs, and the Air Command and Staff College Distance Education Program, where he earned a master’s degree in Military Operational Art. His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three gold stars in lieu of fourth award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.