Ray Kelley

Subject Matter Expert, VSO Engagement

Ray Kelley is the VSO Strategic Advisor for Red Duke Strategies and the Founder and Principal of Two Branch Strategies. He brings 28 years of military service and military and veteran advocacy to this boutique government relations and consulting firm. Ray’s role at Red Duke Strategies is to evaluate VA innovation projects and pair the project with a Veterans Service Organization to test and grow heath care innovation at VA.

Before his work as a consultant, Ray was a Presidential Political Appointee and served as a Sr. Advisor and VSO Liaison for the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to his appointment to VA, Ray served as the Democratic Staff Director for the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. In this role, Ray served as the primary day-to-day veterans’ portfolio legislative and political advisor to Ranking Member Tim Walz and Chairman Mark Takano, as well as overseeing the daily operations of the Committee staff. Prior to his work on the Committee, Ray was the Director, National Legislative Service for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he was responsible for the planning, coordination, and implementation of Veterans of Foreign Wars’ relations with the United States Congress and federal departments and agencies, and other organizations. Ray was the National Legislative Director for AMVETS (American Veterans) before his work at the VFW.

Ray served six years in the United States Marine Corps. He left the service and earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Indiana University. Upon completion of his degree, Ray entered service in the Army Reserve and in April 2006, Ray was deployed to Iraq as a Psychological Operations Team Leader. Ray serves on the Board for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and enjoys hiking, fishing, and golf in his free time. He lives with his wife Rebecca and their two sons, Tanner and Wyatt in Severn, MD.