Jon Kelk

Jon Kelk has been in love with airplanes as long as he can remember. Early in life, he would ask his parents to drive him to their hometown airport in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to watch “the big planes arrive” and spent his time collecting and building model airplanes and reading books about aviation history.

In high school, Jon worked to save money for flight lessons, eventually earning his Certified Flight Instructor rating as a sophomore in college. While applying for jobs post college, an article in the Wall Street Journal said the US Air Force was short 2,000 pilots. He went straight to the recruiter and three months later had short hair and was learning how to salute.

During his 27 years in the Air Force, Jon was a distinguished graduate of both Pilot Training and Fighter Weapons School, and was the first Air Force Pilot to log 4,000 hours in the F-15A/D. He achieved the first aerial victory of Desert Storm by shooting down an Iraqi Mig 29. Jon left the U.S. Air Force in 1992, joined the California Air National Guard and was hired by American Airlines where he flew the Boeing 727, 757 and 767, Fokker F-100, and Airbus A-320.

In 2019, Jon retired from the Air National Guard after 38 years of combined service to his country. Major General Kelk amassed 4,200 hours of military flying, 296 combat hours, and 11,000 hours flying civilian aircraft. His numerous awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Service Medal and Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. His contributions to aviation have earned him a lasting place in the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame.