Mark Kelly

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Mark Kelly
BornMark Edward Kelly
21 2, 1964
BirthplaceOrange, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationTemplate:Flatlist
Known forU.S. Senator from Arizona; NASA astronaut; gun control advocacy
EducationUnited States Merchant Marine Academy (BS)
Naval Postgraduate School (MS)
Spouse(s)Template:Marriage
Children2
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross

Mark Edward Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is an American politician, retired NASA astronaut, and former United States Navy captain who has served as the senior United States senator from Arizona since December 2020. A member of the Democratic Party, Kelly's path to political life followed a distinguished career that took him from the flight decks of naval aircraft during the Gulf War to the cockpit of the Space Shuttle, and ultimately into the national spotlight following the 2011 shooting of his wife, then-U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords. Kelly flew four Space Shuttle missions between 2001 and 2011, including commanding STS-134, the final flight of Endeavour. After retiring from both the Navy and NASA in 2011, he became a prominent advocate for gun control legislation, co-founding the organization Americans for Responsible Solutions with his wife. Kelly won a 2020 special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Senator John McCain, defeating incumbent Republican Martha McSally, and was reelected to a full six-year term in 2022. As of early 2026, Kelly has emerged as a prominent figure in national Democratic politics, publicly stating he would "seriously consider" a run for the presidency in 2028.[1]

Early Life

Mark Edward Kelly was born on February 21, 1964, in Orange, New Jersey, to Richard and Patricia Kelly.[2] He has an identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, who would also go on to become a NASA astronaut. The Kelly brothers grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, where their father worked as a police officer and their mother served as a secretary before later becoming one of the first female police officers in their community.

Growing up in suburban New Jersey, the Kelly twins shared an early interest in flight and exploration. Both brothers were drawn to careers in the military and aviation, a path that would eventually lead each of them to space. The parallel trajectories of the Kelly twins — both becoming naval aviators and then astronauts selected in the same NASA class — would later attract significant scientific and public interest, particularly when NASA used the brothers for its landmark Twins Study, which compared the physiological effects of long-duration spaceflight on Scott with those experienced by Mark, who remained on Earth as a control subject.

Kelly's upbringing in a working-class family in New Jersey shaped much of his public identity. He has frequently referenced his middle-class roots and his family's tradition of public service — through both law enforcement and the military — in his political career. His father's career in policing and his own subsequent military service established a pattern of service-oriented professions that would later extend into his advocacy work and political life.

Education

Kelly attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marine engineering and nautical science in 1986.[2] The Merchant Marine Academy, one of the five U.S. federal service academies, provided Kelly with both his commission as a naval officer and a strong foundation in engineering. Upon graduation, he received his commission in the United States Navy.

Kelly later pursued graduate education at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1994.[2] His advanced degree in aeronautical engineering complemented his growing experience as a naval aviator and positioned him for selection to the highly competitive NASA astronaut program. He also graduated from the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.

Career

Military Service

Following his graduation from the Merchant Marine Academy in 1986, Kelly entered active duty with the United States Navy. He underwent flight training and was designated a naval aviator, eventually accumulating thousands of flight hours in tactical aircraft. Kelly deployed to the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War in 1990–1991, where he flew 39 combat missions aboard the A-6 Intruder.[3]

His combat experience during the Gulf War proved formative both professionally and personally. Flying carrier-based attack aircraft in a conflict zone, Kelly gained the kind of operational military experience that relatively few astronaut candidates could claim. He went on to attend the Naval Test Pilot School, where he trained as a test pilot — a traditional pathway to the astronaut corps dating back to the earliest days of the American space program.

Over the course of his Navy career, Kelly rose to the rank of captain and logged more than 5,000 flight hours in over 50 different aircraft. His military decorations included the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal. He served in the Navy from 1986 until his retirement on October 1, 2011.[4]

NASA Career

In 1996, Kelly was selected as an astronaut candidate as part of NASA Astronaut Group 16, the same class that included his identical twin brother, Scott Kelly.[2] The selection of identical twin brothers into the same astronaut class was unprecedented in NASA history and drew considerable attention. Mark Kelly completed his astronaut training and was initially assigned to technical duties within the Astronaut Office before receiving his first flight assignment.

STS-108 (2001)

Kelly's first spaceflight was STS-108, which launched aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on December 5, 2001. He served as the pilot of the mission, which was a logistics and crew rotation flight to the International Space Station (ISS).[5] The mission carried supplies and equipment to the station and rotated the ISS Expedition crew, delivering the Expedition 4 crew and returning the Expedition 3 crew to Earth. The flight lasted approximately 11 days, during which Endeavour was docked to the ISS for about a week.

STS-121 (2006)

Kelly's second spaceflight came as pilot of STS-121, which launched on July 4, 2006, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. This mission was the second "return to flight" mission following the Columbia disaster of February 2003, which had grounded the Shuttle fleet for more than two years.[6] STS-121 was tasked with testing new safety procedures and inspecting the Shuttle's thermal protection system, as well as delivering supplies to the ISS. The successful completion of STS-121 was an important step in NASA's efforts to demonstrate the safety of continued Shuttle operations and resume regular flights to the space station.

STS-124 (2008)

For his third spaceflight, Kelly moved from the pilot's seat to the commander's chair. He commanded STS-124, which launched aboard Discovery on May 31, 2008.[7][8] The mission's primary objective was to deliver and install the pressurized module of the Japanese Experiment Module (Kibō), the largest laboratory module on the International Space Station. The massive module, built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), weighed approximately 32,000 pounds and required careful robotic arm operations and spacewalks to install.

During the launch of STS-124, the flame trench at Launch Pad 39A sustained significant damage from the Shuttle's solid rocket boosters, scattering bricks and debris across the launch complex.[9] The mission itself, however, was successful, with the Kibō module being attached and activated on the station. Kelly and his crew returned to Earth after nearly 14 days in space. Kelly discussed the mission and his career in a pre-flight interview with NASA, noting the complexity of the Kibō installation.[10]

STS-134 (2011)

Kelly's fourth and final spaceflight was as commander of STS-134, the final mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which launched on May 16, 2011.[11] The crew was originally announced in August 2009, and the mission was to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02), a state-of-the-art particle physics experiment, to the ISS. The AMS-02 was designed to search for various types of unusual matter, including antimatter and dark matter, and represented a major international scientific collaboration.

The mission took on additional significance and public attention because it came just months after the January 2011 shooting of Kelly's wife, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. In the aftermath of the attack, there was considerable speculation about whether Kelly would be able to command the mission as planned. In February 2011, NASA announced that Kelly would remain as commander of STS-134.[12] The mission garnered widespread media coverage, with the Star Trek-themed crew poster attracting particular attention.[13]

Over the course of his four spaceflights, Kelly accumulated more than 54 days in space.[2]

Retirement from Navy and NASA

Kelly retired from both the United States Navy and NASA on October 1, 2011, after 25 years of military service and 15 years with the space agency. His retirement came approximately five months after the completion of STS-134 and nine months after the shooting of his wife.

Gun Control Advocacy

On January 8, 2011, Kelly's wife, then-U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, was shot in the head during a constituent meeting outside a supermarket in Tucson, Arizona. Six people were killed and thirteen others, including Giffords, were wounded in the attack.[3][14] Giffords was critically wounded but survived after emergency surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation. She was initially treated at University Medical Center in Tucson before being transferred to TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston for intensive rehabilitation.[15][16]

The shooting had a profound effect on Kelly and Giffords, shaping the trajectory of their public lives. In 2013, the couple co-founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, a political action committee and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting gun control measures, including universal background checks and restrictions on high-capacity magazines. The organization later merged with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence to form Giffords, which became one of the most prominent gun violence prevention groups in the United States.

Kelly became a leading public voice in the national debate over gun legislation. He testified before congressional committees, appeared in media campaigns, and traveled the country to advocate for legislative reforms. His background as a combat veteran, gun owner, and astronaut lent credibility to his advocacy across political lines, and the personal dimension of his family's experience with gun violence made him a compelling figure in the debate.

Political Career

2020 Special Election

In February 2019, Kelly announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in Arizona, seeking the seat formerly held by John McCain, who had died in August 2018. The seat was being filled on an interim basis by Republican Martha McSally, who had been appointed by Governor Doug Ducey. Kelly ran as a Democrat, having registered with the party in 2018 after previously being registered as an independent.

Kelly's campaign emphasized his military and NASA career, his work on gun violence prevention, and issues such as health care and water policy in Arizona. He raised substantial sums and attracted national attention as one of the Democrats' top Senate recruits. In the November 2020 special election, Kelly defeated McSally, becoming the first Democrat to win that Arizona Senate seat since 1962. Because the special election was to fill the remainder of McCain's term, Kelly was sworn in on December 2, 2020, upon certification of the election results, giving him seniority over other senators elected on the same day who were not sworn in until January 2021.

2022 Reelection

In 2022, Kelly ran for a full six-year Senate term. He won reelection in the November general election, solidifying his position in a state that had been considered reliably Republican for decades but had shifted toward competitive status. His reelection confirmed Arizona's emergence as a key swing state in American politics.

Senate Tenure

In the Senate, Kelly has served on several committees and focused on issues including national security, veterans' affairs, space policy, water resources, and border security. His background as a military officer and astronaut has informed his work on defense and science-related legislation. As a senator from Arizona, a border state, Kelly has also engaged with immigration policy, often seeking to position himself as a centrist willing to work across party lines.

Kelly was reportedly among the three leading contenders for the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nomination, alongside Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Walz was ultimately selected as the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Conflict with the Pentagon (2026)

In early 2026, Kelly became embroiled in a high-profile dispute with the Department of Defense. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued Kelly a letter of censure over what the Pentagon described as "seditious statements and his pattern of reckless misconduct," related to a video in which Kelly joined other lawmakers in discussing the concept of illegal orders in the military.[17] The Pentagon reportedly considered demoting Kelly from his retired rank of captain.

Kelly challenged the censure in federal court, arguing that the Pentagon's actions violated his First Amendment rights as a sitting senator. In a February 2026 hearing, a federal judge expressed skepticism about the legal justification for the Pentagon's actions, stating that he was aware of no U.S. Supreme Court precedent that would support the censuring of a sitting senator for political speech.[18][19][20]

An attorney for Kelly also urged Department of Justice officials not to pursue an indictment for a second time against a group of lawmakers involved in the video.[21] The case drew national attention and was characterized by legal analysts as raising significant questions about the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government.

In February 2026, ahead of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, most Arizona Democrats announced they would boycott the speech. Kelly, however, stated he would attend, declaring that Trump "can't intimidate" him.[22]

Potential 2028 Presidential Campaign

In February 2026, Kelly publicly stated that he would "seriously consider" running for president in 2028, amid his ongoing confrontation with the Trump administration over the Pentagon censure matter.[23] The statement elevated his national political profile and positioned him as one of the early potential contenders for the Democratic nomination.

Personal Life

Kelly married Gabby Giffords on November 10, 2007, in a ceremony at an organic produce farm in Tucson, Arizona.[24] He has two daughters from a previous marriage. Giffords served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 8th congressional district from 2007 until her resignation in January 2012, following her recovery from the 2011 shooting.

Kelly's identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, is also a retired NASA astronaut who is known for his year-long mission aboard the International Space Station in 2015–2016. The brothers' parallel careers have been a source of ongoing public and scientific interest. NASA's Twins Study, which compared the physiological changes in Scott during his year in space with Mark as a ground-based control, produced significant findings about the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body.

In the aftermath of the 2011 Tucson shooting, Kelly spoke publicly about the role of faith and hope in his family's recovery, while also channeling the experience into his advocacy for gun violence prevention.[25] The couple's story — of recovery, resilience, and subsequent public advocacy — has been the subject of multiple books, documentaries, and media profiles.

Kelly resides in Arizona with Giffords.

Recognition

Over the course of his military and NASA career, Kelly received numerous awards and honors. His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and multiple Air Medals. He also received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the NASA Space Flight Medal for each of his four Shuttle missions.

Kelly's public profile expanded considerably following the 2011 Tucson shooting and his subsequent advocacy work. He and Giffords co-authored the memoir Gabby: A Story of Courage, Love and Resilience (2011), which became a New York Times bestseller. Kelly also wrote Mousetronaut (2012), a children's book inspired by a mouse that traveled to space aboard one of his Shuttle missions.

His selection as commander of STS-134, the final mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour, cemented his place in the history of the American space program. The mission's delivery and installation of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer represented a major contribution to international scientific research aboard the ISS.

In the political arena, Kelly's 2020 special election victory was considered a significant achievement, as he flipped a Senate seat that had been held by Republicans for nearly six decades. His subsequent 2022 reelection further established him as a durable political figure in a state undergoing substantial demographic and political change.

Legacy

Mark Kelly's career spans three distinct areas of American public life — the military, space exploration, and politics — each of which has contributed to his national prominence. As a naval aviator, he served in combat during the Gulf War. As a NASA astronaut, he flew four Space Shuttle missions over a decade, contributing to the construction and supply of the International Space Station and the delivery of major scientific instruments. As a senator, he has represented Arizona during a period of significant political realignment in the American Southwest.

The 2011 shooting of Gabby Giffords became a defining moment not only for Kelly personally but also for the broader national conversation about gun violence in the United States. The couple's subsequent founding of what became the Giffords organization helped reshape the gun control advocacy landscape, providing an institutional counterweight to organizations opposing gun legislation.

Kelly's twin relationship with Scott Kelly has contributed to scientific understanding of spaceflight's effects on the human body. The NASA Twins Study, published in 2019, was one of the most comprehensive investigations of its kind, comparing genetic, physiological, and cognitive changes between the two brothers.

As of early 2026, Kelly's confrontation with the Department of Defense over his censure has raised significant constitutional questions about the relationship between the military and civilian political leadership, and about the scope of First Amendment protections for retired military personnel serving in elected office. His public consideration of a 2028 presidential campaign signals a potential next chapter in a career that has repeatedly moved across the boundaries of American public institutions.

References

  1. ↑ "Senator Mark Kelly says he will 'seriously consider' running for president".BBC News.2026-02-17.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9gdvl4zv4o.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "NASA Astronaut Biography: Mark E. Kelly".NASA.http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/shuttle_ap_interview_transcript.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "NASA astronaut Mark Kelly's wife shot in Arizona".Houston Chronicle.http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/facebook/7384334.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "NASA Astronaut Mark Kelly's Wife Shot in Arizona".Caldwells Patch.http://caldwells.patch.com/articles/nasa-astronaut-mark-kellys-wife-shot-in-arizona-2.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "STS-108".NASA.http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-108.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "STS-121 Press Kit".NASA.http://mynasa.nasa.gov/pdf/149873main_sts121_press_kit.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "STS-124 Fact Sheet".NASA.http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/221164main_sts124_Fact_Sheet.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Shuttle Discovery Blasts Off for Space Station".Space.com.2008-05-31.http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080531-sts124-launch-day.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Shuttle Launch Damages Pad 39A".Space.com.2008-06-02.http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080602-sts124-pad39a-damage.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "STS-124 Crew Interview: Mark Kelly".NASA.http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts124/interview_Kelly.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "STS-134 Crew Announced".NASA.2009-08.http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/aug/HQ_09-187_STS-134_crew.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Kelly Returns to Lead STS-134 Mission".NASA.2011-02.http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/feb/HQ_11-036_Kelly_Returns.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "STS-134 Does Star Trek with New Poster".Universe Today.http://www.universetoday.com/59925/sts-134-does-star-trek-with-new-poster.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Giffords' husband says attempt on her life 'shouldn't happen in this country'".Deccan Herald.http://www.deccanherald.com/content/134721/giffords-husband-says-attempt-her.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Giffords leaves Tucson hospital for Houston rehab center".USA Today.http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/01/gabrielle-giffords-leaves-tucson-hospital-for-houston-rehab-center/1.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "US Rep. Giffords moved to TIRR Memorial Hermann".KVUE.http://www.kvue.com/news/state/US-Rep-Giffords-moved-to-TIRR-Memorial-Hermann.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "The Mark Kelly Case Is Bigger Than It Seems".The Atlantic.2026-02.https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/02/pete-hegseth-mark-kelly-court/685911/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Judge seems skeptical of legal justification for Pentagon's punishment of Sen. Mark Kelly".AP News.https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-kelly-hegseth-illegal-orders-lawsuit-57e0ff8794f09c27029695226ca0572d.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Defense Dept. effort to punish Mark Kelly draws skepticism from judge".The Washington Post.2026-02-03.https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/03/mark-kelly-hegseth-censure-court/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Judge appears likely to side with Mark Kelly in case challenging Pentagon's efforts to punish him over 'illegal orders' video".CNN.2026-02-03.https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/03/politics/mark-kelly-hearing-case-challenging-pentagon-punishment.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Sen. Mark Kelly's lawyer urges DOJ officials not to seek indictment for a second time over video".NBC News.https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-mark-kellys-lawyer-urges-doj-officials-not-seek-indictment-second-rcna259093.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Arizona Democrats boycott State of the Union as Kelly vows Trump 'can't intimidate' him".Arizona Mirror.2026-02-24.https://azmirror.com/briefs/arizona-democrats-boycott-state-of-the-union-as-kelly-vows-trump-cant-intimidate-him/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Senator Mark Kelly says he will 'seriously consider' running for president".BBC News.2026-02-17.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9gdvl4zv4o.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Giffords weds astronaut Kelly".The Arizona Republic.http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/06/01/20080601Giffords0601.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Prayer, Mark Kelly, angels, God, fate".USA Today.http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2011/02/prayer-mark-kelly-angels-god-fate-/1.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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