Joseph A Kiely

Air Force

Joseph Kiely, Jr., died July 10, 2019, in Annapolis, MD. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Ann Kiely of London, England, and Annapolis, MD. His wife of 60 years, Margaret Alice Beverage, died May 31, 2007. Colonel Kiely was raised in Upper Darby, PA.

He graduated Cum Laude from Ohio State University and later from the Air Force Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB in AL.

During his military career, he served during World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam and spent six years overseas in England, France, and Germany. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal. He was awarded a certificate (DIPLÔME) at the French Embassy in Washington, DC, for his part in the liberation of France.

He spent most of his career in Procurement Management work and had numerous awards and decorations. He organized the Procurement and Contracting Office at Chaumont Air Base, France, and the Procurement and Contracting Office at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He was the Air Force Officer in Charge at the IBM plant in Owego, NY, and assigned to the ATLAS ICBM Systems Program Office at Norton Air Force Base in CA and was awarded the Air Force Missile Badge. He spent six years as a Division Chief at Air Force headquarters at the Pentagon and was the first Executive Secretary of the Air Force Systems Procurement Council and the Air Force Independent Research and Development Policy Council. Col. Kiely is listed in Who’s Who in Government in 1973/74, served in the Inspector General’s Office at AFSC Andrews Air Force Base.

He is listed in the Veterans History Project at the U.S. Library of Congress. His name was inscribed on the National Air and Space Museum’s Wall of Honor in recognition of his contributions to aviation and space exploration heritage. Col. Kiely is featured in Sean C. Kelly's book, “Home Bases: Memories and Stories of US Military Bases Around London”.