Judson "Jud" Kelley: CFI, CFII, MEI - Assistant Chief Flight Instructor
Jud is a 25-year Air Force veteran with over 2,000 hours in A-7s, A-37s, & F-16s and combat tours in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. After retiring from the Air Force, he founded an AFJROTC program in 2006 at Bethel High School in Spanaway. After retiring from teaching he continued to pursue his aviation passions in flight and kit planes. He is currently building an RV-6A, flying a Piper Tomahawk and working part-time at Safety In Motion. Since he was young, he wanted to be an astronaut. He attended the Air Force Academy to pursue that dream, and through his experience there, realized that being a fighter pilot was the best thing he could do (after discovering he didn't like 0 G). The thing he loves about aviation is the freedom to fly and travel without being tied to an airline schedule. Flying to airport restaurants affords a unique getaway for himself and his wife. Flying to Pullman in 3 hours instead of driving for 6 was great when his kids were attending WSU. He also really enjoys passing on his aviation experience and knowledge to the next generation. Jud is a CFII/MEI with over 3,000 flight hours. He’s working on his IGI and AGI. When he’s not teaching at SIM Flight Center, he can be found in his hangar at Hoskins Field, putzing around the house, or in the kitchen as his wife’s favorite cook.
