Since December 2020, Mark Edward Kelly, a politician, businessman, former astronaut, and U.S. Navy captain, has been the junior senator representing Arizona. Kelly was born on February 21, 1964. He was elected in the special election brought on by the passing of Senator John McCain, defeating the sitting Republican Martha McSally.
Before being chosen as a NASA Space Shuttle pilot in 1996, Kelly served as a military aviator on combat missions during the Gulf War. He flew STS-108 in 2001, STS-121 in 2006, STS-124 in 2008, and STS-134 in 2011, the last Space Shuttle Endeavour mission, as his first space flight. He and his identical twin Scott Kelly, the only brothers who have gone to space, are now retired, astronauts.
On January 8, 2011, Kelly’s wife, the then-Congresswoman for Arizona, Gabby Giffords, was shot in a murder attempt. In the incident in Tucson, six people died. Following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School the following year, Giffords and Kelly established the nonprofit organization Americans for Responsible Solutions, later renamed Giffords, which advocates for red flag laws and background checks for all gun purchases.
On February 12, 2019, Kelly declared his candidacy for Arizona’s Class 3 U.S. Senate seat in the 2020 special election. His victory over Republican incumbent Martha McSally in the general election on November 3, 2020, made him the first Democrat to win this seat since 1962. He won the Democratic primary on August 4, 2020. Inauguration Day for Kelly was December 2, 2020. Republican Blake Masters, a venture businessman and novelist will be his rival in Arizona’s 2022 Senate race.
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Mark Kelly height – How tall is Mark Kelly?
Mark Kelly is 6 feet 2 inches tall (188.0 cm).
How Much is Sen. Mark Kelly Worth?
From 1996 through 2011, he served as the NASA Space Shuttle’s pilot. He served as a Navy captain during the Gulf War and participated in 39 combat sorties for Operation Desert Storm before beginning his employment with NASA.
On February 21, 1964, former police officers Richard & Patricia Kelly gave birth to twin boys, one of whom was named Mark Edward Kelly.
He graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy with a degree in marine engineering & nautical science in 1986. He received his commission as a navy aviator a year later.
He finally returned to school and graduated from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School with a master’s in aeronautical engineering. Scott, his brother, also worked for NASA.
Kelly left NASA and the Navy in 2011.
Kelly’s Personal Life
He has had two marriages. From 1989 through 2004, he was married to Amelia Babis. They have two daughters and went through a contentious divorce. In 2007, Kelly wed Giffords. Currently, the couple resides in Tucson.
