Meritorious Service Cross
- Awarded on: March 11, 2016
- Invested on: October 05, 2016
Rank: Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
On February 27, 2014, Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Kelly demonstrated selfless dedication and outstanding leadership during and after a catastrophic engine room fire while at sea on board Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Protecteur. In the chaotic early stages of the fire, he personally led the effort to identify and locate missing crew. His boundless drive was essential in enabling the crew to fight the fire, and to overcome significant challenges during the long towing operation to port.