Brendan Kelly “Schmelly”

Brendan Kelly, also known as "Schmelly," has a diverse work experience across various industries. Brendan started their career as a Contract Pilot for EMax, where they flew Gulfstream V aircraft from 2008 to 2011. Following that, they worked at the United States Coast Guard Headquarters, serving as the Deputy of the Office of Requirements and Analysis from 2008 to 2013.

In 2013, Brendan joined the United States Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City as a Pilot/Executive Officer. In this role, they managed and supervised a team of 320 personnel and was responsible for the operation of HC-130J fixed-wing aircraft and MH-60T helicopters. Brendan held this position until 2015, when they became the Chief of Incident Management at the United States Coast Guard Fifth District. Here, they oversaw and managed maritime safety and security responses in the Mid-Atlantic region.

From 2016 to 2019, Brendan worked as a Tennis Coach at Atlantic Shores Christian School. In 2019, they had multiple roles, including Transportation Specialist at Risk Mitigation Consulting, Inc., and Affiliate for Business Development at EMERGMAP LLC., a technology company providing mapping software. At EMERGMAP, they also supported clients like the Department of Homeland Security/United States Coast Guard and North Carolina Emergency Management.

In 2019, Brendan started working at Whitney, Bradley & Brown (WBB) as a DHS/USCG Policy and Strategy Subject Matter Expert. Brendan was responsible for business development and project management for the Federal, Civilian, and Health market, with an emphasis on the Department of Homeland Security/United States Coast Guard.

Most recently, Brendan joined EZHomesteading in 2022 as a Sales and Marketing Specialist. The company aims to assist small-scale farmers in selling healthy and affordable food directly to consumers by bypassing expensive infrastructure and middlemen. Brendan is responsible for marketing, training, and operations at retail spaces, farmers markets, and training farms.

In 2023, Brendan joined Green Leaf Defender as a Sales and Marketing Specialist. The company offers Diatamaceous Earth (DE) liquified insecticide protection for agricultural products, as well as eliminating pests, bacteria, and mold for homes, businesses, and public interests. In this role, they conduct marketing and business development activities.

Throughout their career, Brendan has demonstrated expertise in business development, operations management, project management, and strategic planning. Brendan has also been involved in leadership roles and has contributed to diversity initiatives, as evident in their position as Co-Chair of the Leadership Diversity Advisory Council at the United States Coast Guard Fifth District.

Brendan Kelly "Schmelly" has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Averett University, which they obtained from 2008 to 2010. Prior to that, they attended the US Coast Guard Academy from 1988 to 1992, where they earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree with a focus on Business Administration and Management.

In addition to their academic achievements, Brendan Kelly "Schmelly" has also obtained various certifications in the field of aviation. Brendan is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), a qualification given by the Federal Aviation Administration, which they obtained in March 2017. Furthermore, they have achieved the Airline Transport Pilot ratings for DA-20, G-V, and CL-604 aircraft, also awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration in December 2005.