A citizen of California, Thomas Kelly entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1985.  He has served in U.S. Embassies and Missions in San Salvador (1985-1987), Santiago (1990-1993), Paris (1994-1998), Quito (2000-2003), Vilnius (2004-2007), and Buenos Aires (2007-2010).  In both Vilnius and Buenos Aires, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in the U.S. Embassies in those capitals.  He also worked in the State Department's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (1988-1990) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (1998-2000). 

Mr. Kelly holds M.A. degrees in Development Economics from Stanford University (1994) and Latin American Studies from Georgetown University (1984). He received his Bachelor's degree from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service (1984).

In 2003, the Department of State awarded Mr. Kelly the Herbert Salzman Award for Excellence in International Economic Performance for his work in Ecuador.  He has received Superior Honor Awards from the State Department for each of his last four foreign assignments.  He was nominated for the Baker-Wilkins Award for Outstanding Deputy Chief of Mission in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2010.

Mr. Kelly speaks Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Lithuanian.  He is married and has two children.