Rear Admiral William G. Kelly (U.S. Coast Guard, Retired)

William G. Kelly is the sixth President of Christopher Newport University and a nationally respected educator and military leader. He is a lifelong public servant with nearly four decades of distinguished service in the U.S. Coast Guard and higher education.

President Kelly has set the University on a course to be anchored in excellence in all that it does. He instituted the Strategic Compass, a communitywide planning process to establish the University’s goals. President Kelly led the restructuring of the University’s Title IX Office, launched Going Greener to spur environmental initiatives, signed articulation agreements with several community colleges, and guided admissions strategies that resulted in a record-breaking increase in applications and positive steps toward a goal of being the most inclusive public university in Virginia.

President Kelly joined Phillip Jones, the mayor of Newport News, in establishing a task force to examine the decisions that resulted in the growth of Christopher Newport University. President Kelly was also named by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to serve on the Preserving Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program Task Force.

Prior to his appointment as President, Rear Admiral (retired) Kelly was the 42nd Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. As Superintendent (President) of one of the nation’s five federal service academies, he was responsible for the education, training, and development of the future leaders of the U.S. Coast Guard. He oversaw every aspect of academic, athletic (NCAA Div. III), military, and civic development, ensuring graduates were prepared to serve as officers in service to their nation.

He is a 1987 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and earned his master’s degree in Instructional Systems Design from Florida State University, along with a Certificate in Human Resource Management.

Bill and his wife Angie have been married for 37 years, and they are the proud parents of two sons, Patrick and Tyler, and the adoring grandparents to their young grandson, Liam, and granddaughter, Amelia. In their free time, the Kellys enjoy cheering on the countless CNU Captains who give their all on the stage, court, classroom, and field.