Major General Kelly Dickerson was commissioned into the United States Army in 1995 through ROTC at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He served in various roles, including Armor Officer, Infantry Officer, and Civil Affairs Officer. After completing Armor Officer Basic at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Louisiana as Platoon Leader and Executive Officer.
MG Dickerson began his Army Reserve career as Executive Officer of Company B, 1st Battalion, 317th Infantry Regiment, and later commanded Bravo and Delta Companies. He deployed to Iraq as Battalion Border Transition Team Chief for the 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, and later as Senior Team Chief with the 448th Civil Affairs Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as Assistant Chief of Ground Operations and Civil Affairs Liaison Officer at Special Operations Command Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Virginia, and later as Operations Officer with the 352nd Civil Affairs Command.
Following a deployment to Kuwait as Deputy J3, Combined Joint Task Force in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, MG Dickerson assumed Battalion Command of the 437th Civil Affairs Battalion at Fort Story, Virginia. He subsequently served as G-3 Operations Chief and Chief of Staff at the 352nd Civil Affairs Command. Promoted to Colonel, he commanded the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade in Homewood, IL. As a Brigadier General, he was Deputy Commanding General at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. His final assignment was as Deputy Chief of Staff, G3/5/7 at the Office of the Chief of Army Reserve.
MG Dickerson’s military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Civil Affairs Qualification Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Naval Postgraduate School, and U.S. Army War College. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and an M.S. in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Service Ribbon, and Parachutist Badge.