Michael Kelly has served for over 20 years in the national security sector. He has led units focusing on Latin America, Africa, South Asia, and Eurasia and on issues ranging from traditional analysis to targeting to counterintelligence. Mr. Kelly also directed multiple running's of foundational analytic training courses in the US Government and developed curriculum on critical thinking.

Mr. Kelly’s academic research before his government career focused on politics and economics in Latin America, a region in which he has conducted academic fieldwork and served as a diplomat.