Designation: DrillMaster002
Certification: Certified DrillMaster
Endorsements: Regulation Drill, Exhibition Drill, Ceremonial Drill
Biography:
Mike Kelley, CDM, is a United State Marine Corps veteran, having served as an Air Traffic Controller from 1999-2003. His experience with drill and ceremonies started when he was very young, participating in color guards with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He served as Commanding Officer of his NJROTC unit in high school, where he also commanded the Varsity Color Guard, and competed on the Varsity Drill Team in both regulation and exhibition drill.
On joining the Marine Corps, he participated in numerous ceremonies and honor guards, and worked with the Navy Flying Rifles Drill Team while in “A” school in Pensacola, Florida. He has served as Color Corps, Honor Guard, and Color Guard Commander with the Knights of Columbus, and on Honor Guards and Color Guards with numerous Veterans and Hereditary societies.
He has coached at the local, state, and national levels, including the National High School Drill Team Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida. He has also served as a judge at the local and state level.
He currently holds the rank of Major, and is the Commander of the Ceremonial Guard of the Royal House of Kamakahelei.
He received certification as a Certified Drill Master in Regulation Drill, Exhibition Drill, and Ceremonial Drill in November of 2016.
He holds the following credentials from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
- Certified Interscholastic Coach (CIC)
- Associate Interscholastic Coach (AIC)
- NFHS Music Level 2
- NFHS Music Level 1
- National Parent Credential
- Maryland State Component
- Virginia State Component
- District of Columbia State Component
He is also an Instructor Trainer in First Aid, CPR, and AED through the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI).
He is a member of the Guardia d’Onore alle Reali Tombe del Pantheon, and an associate member of the Society of the Honor Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Air Force Honor Guard Association.