Photo By Alfred Tripolone | Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua Kelley talks with members of the U.S. Army Garrison team about his time in service, both at Natick and prior to, during a going away picnic Sept. 4, 2025. Kelley was presented with a gift from the garrison commemorating his time at USAG-Natick to thank him for his dedicated service and leadership. see less
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A Legacy of Leadership: CSM Joshua Kelley Retires After 22 Years of Service
After 22 years of dedicated service, Command Sergeant Major Joshua Kelley is preparing to close his Army chapter, leaving behind a legacy defined by mentorship, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to Soldiers and the mission.
For Kelley, being an NCO has always been more than a rank; it has been a calling. “When people think of me, I want them to think of the NCO Creed,” he said, reflecting on his career. That creed, beginning with the words, “No one is more professional than I,” is more than just memorized doctrine for Kelley. It’s how he’s lived his career.
“He ensured we focused on what was important, taking care of our Soldiers, Civilians, and their Families,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Ballow, the former U.S. Army Garrion Natick Commander. “He was the voice of reason and made sure we considered everyone’s perspective before making a decision.”
Those who worked alongside Kelley describe him as the embodiment of the Army’s ideal NCO. Mr. Keith Jackson, Deputy to the Garrison Commander of U.S. Army Garrison Natick, began working with him in January 2024 and quickly saw his impact.
“One of his strong points is he’s a mentor not just to me and the Colonel, but also to the entire civilian staff,” Jackson said. “He’s outstanding in everything he does. The Army’s definitely going to miss him when he retires in October.”
Kelley’s mentorship wasn’t confined to Soldiers in uniform. He took an active role in shaping the civilian workforce, teaching them tools like the POAM (Plan of Action and Milestones) and demonstrating how to apply after action reviews to improve performance across the garrison. “Those after-action reviews came back and paid off big dividends,” Jackson recalled.
Ballow echoed that sentiment, noting that Kelley’s investment in staff development directly improved mission success. “Whether it was hip-pocket AAR training or how to use a POAM, CSM leveraged his 2-Star Staff experience to improve our ability to plan, prepare, and execute across the garrison,” he said.
Whether in the conference room or out in the field, Kelley led by example. He didn’t hesitate to join in spring and fall cleanups, or to roll up his sleeves alongside his teammates. “He’s not afraid to get dirty,” Jackson said. “That statue outside the gate? That was him out there with us, cleaning it all up, putting new flowers and mulch down. He just doesn’t allow others to do his job, he does it and then helps with theirs too.”
Kelley’s approach to leadership always came back to two fundamentals: taking care of Soldiers and accomplishing the mission. Those around him say he gave officers the space to focus on their duties because they knew he could be trusted to handle his own.
“He does what he’s expected,” Jackson said. “If anything, he jumps in and helps others with their jobs so the garrison as a whole could be successful.”
Ballow, who served alongside him daily, described their working relationship as seamless. “He was my shadow and sounding board, a constant voice of reason,” Ballow said. “We were cut from the same cloth, he knew what I was thinking without me saying anything, and he would often insert himself to resolve an issue before I had the opportunity to engage.”
For Ballow, Kelley’s legacy at Natick will be measured in people. “His impact on the staff and the BOSS program will last long after he’s gone,” he said. “He’s a combat leader and the model NCO, the way he carries himself, his knowledge and experience, the way he communicates…everything about him is senior infantry NCO.”
As Kelley prepares for life beyond the Army, his plans reflect the same spirit of adventure and discipline that guided his service. He hopes to sail around the world and spend quality time with his family.
“The good news is, with him going and sailing around the world, there’s no doubt in my mind that the discipline he learned in the military, the mental and physical toughness, the spiritual guidance, all that will be with him,” Jackson said. “For no matter what he does in the future, he’s going to be totally successful.”
Jackson, like many who served with Kelley, also expressed personal gratitude and friendship. “Hopefully a couple years from now we can sit down, maybe have a beer somewhere, and talk about how his sailing journey went, some of the good things and some of the bad things that happened, some things we can laugh about that weren’t funny at the time.”
“The Army is losing a proven combat leader. He doesn’t need my advice, he has it figured out, but he should know he’ll be missed. We’re excited to watch him sail around the world,” Ballow added.
As Kelley steps away from the uniform, his influence will remain etched in the Soldiers he led, the civilians he coached, and the community he served. He is, in every sense, the epitome of what it means to be an NCO, professional, selfless, and dedicated to the Army family.
