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Trent Kelly
John Trent Kelly (born March 1, 1966) is an American lawyer, politician, and U.S. Army major general serving as the U.S. representative for Mississippi's 1st congressional district since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the district attorney of Mississippi's 1st Judicial District from 2012 to 2015.
John Trent Kelly was born on March 1, 1966, in Union, Mississippi, to John and Barbara Kelly. He is a resident of Saltillo, Mississippi, where he served as the district attorney of Mississippi's 1st Circuit Judicial District, which includes Lee, Pontotoc, Alcorn, Monroe, Itawamba, Prentiss, and Tishomingo Counties.
Kelly graduated from Union High School in 1984 and joined the Mississippi Army National Guard in 1985. He earned an associate's degree from East Central Community College in Decatur before graduating from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree. Kelly is a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
Kelly graduated from University of Mississippi School of Law and received a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in 2010.
After law school, Kelly worked in private practice until 1999, when he became a city prosecutor in Tupelo. He was elected district attorney in 2011, defeating a nine-term Democratic incumbent.
In 1990, Kelly mobilized for Operation Desert Storm as a second lieutenant engineer officer. In 2005, Kelly deployed as a major during the Iraq War with the 155th Brigade as the Operations Officer of the 150th Engineer Battalion. From 2009 to 2010, he deployed as a lieutenant colonel to Iraq as the Battalion Commander of Task Force Knight of the 155th Brigade Combat Team and commanded over 670 troops from Mississippi, Ohio, and Kentucky. Kelly has received two Bronze Star medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze, Silver, and Gold de Fleury medals, and numerous other federal and state awards for his service. From October 2014 to November 2016, he served as the brigade commander for the 168th Engineer Brigade, leading 1,400 soldiers from the 223rd Engineer Battalion, the 890th Engineer Battalion, and multiple Engineer Specialty Companies from Mississippi. Kelly was promoted to brigadier general in January 2018 and to major general in November 2020. His capstone assignment was as assistant adjutant general - Army, for the Mississippi National Guard; he retired from the Guard in April 2025.
After the death of Republican Congressman Alan Nunnelee in 2015, Kelly entered the race to succeed him. Nunnelee's widow, Tori Nunnelee, contributed to Kelly's campaign.
In the first round, Kelly finished second in a 13-candidate field, behind Democrat Walter Zinn. As no candidate received a majority of votes, Kelly and Zinn advanced to a runoff on June 2. Several of the other candidates in the race endorsed Kelly after they were eliminated.
Trent Kelly
John Trent Kelly (born March 1, 1966) is an American lawyer, politician, and U.S. Army major general serving as the U.S. representative for Mississippi's 1st congressional district since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the district attorney of Mississippi's 1st Judicial District from 2012 to 2015.
John Trent Kelly was born on March 1, 1966, in Union, Mississippi, to John and Barbara Kelly. He is a resident of Saltillo, Mississippi, where he served as the district attorney of Mississippi's 1st Circuit Judicial District, which includes Lee, Pontotoc, Alcorn, Monroe, Itawamba, Prentiss, and Tishomingo Counties.
Kelly graduated from Union High School in 1984 and joined the Mississippi Army National Guard in 1985. He earned an associate's degree from East Central Community College in Decatur before graduating from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree. Kelly is a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
Kelly graduated from University of Mississippi School of Law and received a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in 2010.
After law school, Kelly worked in private practice until 1999, when he became a city prosecutor in Tupelo. He was elected district attorney in 2011, defeating a nine-term Democratic incumbent.
In 1990, Kelly mobilized for Operation Desert Storm as a second lieutenant engineer officer. In 2005, Kelly deployed as a major during the Iraq War with the 155th Brigade as the Operations Officer of the 150th Engineer Battalion. From 2009 to 2010, he deployed as a lieutenant colonel to Iraq as the Battalion Commander of Task Force Knight of the 155th Brigade Combat Team and commanded over 670 troops from Mississippi, Ohio, and Kentucky. Kelly has received two Bronze Star medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze, Silver, and Gold de Fleury medals, and numerous other federal and state awards for his service. From October 2014 to November 2016, he served as the brigade commander for the 168th Engineer Brigade, leading 1,400 soldiers from the 223rd Engineer Battalion, the 890th Engineer Battalion, and multiple Engineer Specialty Companies from Mississippi. Kelly was promoted to brigadier general in January 2018 and to major general in November 2020. His capstone assignment was as assistant adjutant general - Army, for the Mississippi National Guard; he retired from the Guard in April 2025.
After the death of Republican Congressman Alan Nunnelee in 2015, Kelly entered the race to succeed him. Nunnelee's widow, Tori Nunnelee, contributed to Kelly's campaign.
In the first round, Kelly finished second in a 13-candidate field, behind Democrat Walter Zinn. As no candidate received a majority of votes, Kelly and Zinn advanced to a runoff on June 2. Several of the other candidates in the race endorsed Kelly after they were eliminated.
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