John F . Kelly ( politician ) John Francis Kelly ( born 1949 ) currently serves as a professor of National Security Studies and Associate Dean Emeritus at the National Defense University ' s Africa Center for Strategic Studies . Dr . Kelly was a four - term Michigan State Senator and a candidate for the United States Senate . He has 35 years of experience in higher education , civil government and military science , and has served in the United States Army as a Defense Attaché and a Judge Advocate General . His scholarly expertise lies in internal security and homeland defense , civilian management of security sector policy development , electoral reform and democracy , and governance in continental Africa . Biography . John Francis Kelly was born in Detroit , Michigan to parents Margaret Kelly and Robert Corby Kelly . Robert was a studio artist and instructor , and retired as an accountant for the Avon Tubing Company . John was one of seven children . His brother is actor David Patrick Kelly . Education . Dr . Kelly received a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from Wayne State University , where he was a Graduate Fellow , specializing in international relations and diplomatic history . Kelly also holds a Master of Public Administration from Wayne University as well as a Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University . His baccalaureate degree is in political science and education and was earned with Honors at the University of Michigan . Kelly has completed further graduate studies at Georgetown University . Career . Political career . John F . Kelly was elected to the Michigan State Senate in 1978 from Detroit and served four consecutive four - year terms . At his first caucus Kelly was elected as Majority Whip and authored over 100 pieces of legislation and amendments that became law , including the state investment anti - apartheid laws for South Africa and the McBride anti - discrimination employment laws for Northern Ireland . He served on committees with jurisdiction over the judiciary , banking and economic development , health policy , local government and public finance . He served on the National Commission on Uniform Law , the Michigan Law Revision Commission and as a delegate to the National Conference on State Legislatures . Dr . Kelly served on a National Commission on Distressed States and is committed to projects to revitalize the City of Detroit . In 1994 he stood for election to the U . S . Senate requiring retirement from the state legislature . Legal career . Dr . Kelly passed the Michigan state bar exam and served as a Special Attorney General in Michigan from 1995 to 1999 . He also practiced law as a principal in the firm of Schwartz Kelly & Oltarz - Schwartz . He is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States , the Michigan Supreme Court and all subordinate Federal and State bars as well as the US Court of Military Appeals . He has expertise in the area of immigration law and corporate law . He also has a high degree of experience in political campaign consulting . Military career . Dr . Kelly retired as a Colonel in the U . S . Army Reserves , Civil Affairs branch . As a Foreign Area Officer , he has served as a defense attaché on multiple tours of active duty assigned primarily to the Republic of South Africa . In his reserve capacity he spent seven years as a liaison to Federal law enforcement on counter - terrorism research . A Graduate of Army Command and General Staff College , he also spent 10 years as a staff Judge Advocate General . He has been decorated repeatedly for his contributions to the defense establishment during times of war . Academic career . Dr . Kelly came to Washington , DC as an Associate Professor from the University of Windsor in Ontario , Canada , where he was a Fulbright Scholar conducting research on comparative federalism . His academic research has focused on retained sovereignty and policy development of sub - national government , and he has received multiple teaching awards . He also served as an elected member of the Board of Governors of Wayne State University from 1998 to 2002 . At the Africa Center for Strategic Studies , Dr . Kelly is developing a program to strengthen the rule of law in African governments and promote good governance . Film Industry Involvement . Since 2007 , Dr . Kelly has also served as Director of the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival . The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival began in 2007 and showcases films from across the world as well as local films created and produced in Michigan . The festival is held in the Detroit Cultural Center primarily created tax incentives at Wayne University in Detroit and is affiliated with the University ' s College of Fine , Performing , and Communication Arts . Dr Kelly also served until 2009 as the elected Vice - Chair of the Michigan Film Advisory Board . The Advisory Board provided tax incentives and managed programs designed to attract film production companies to Michigan as well as promote the growth of Michigan ' s indigenous film industry .