Jill Kelley
- Activist
- philanthropist
- diplomatic advisor
Jill Kelley (born June 3, 1975) is a Lebanese-American philanthropist, activist, and diplomatic advisor.[2][3][4][5] She is also a former South Korean Honorary Consul,[6][7] and a former honorary ambassador to U.S. Central Command under General James N. Mattis.[8][9]
Early life
Jill Kelley was born Gilberte Khawam on June 3, 1975 in Beirut, Lebanon.[10][11][1] Her identical twin sister is Natalie Khawam, a Washington, D.C. lawyer.[11][12] She grew up near Philadelphia, and was known as Gigi.[11] She has an older sister and a younger brother.[11]
Her parents immigrated to the United States in 1976 and opened a Middle Eastern restaurant in Voorhees, New Jersey in 1988.[11] Jill graduated from Lower Moreland High School in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania in 1993.
Later Life and Career
Kelley worked with a physician as a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
Since the early 2000s, Jill and her husband Scott Kelley have been known for their lavish parties, with guest lists including military leaders and other dignitaries.[12][13][11] Their parties in the Tampa area include bashes for the Gasparilla Pirate Festival.[11][14] These include parties at their house in Tampa, and various events in Washington, D.C.[12][13][11] In November 2017, Jill hosted a diplomatic party for Ambassadors at the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 2016 United States presidential election, by introducing Washington Ambassadors to the senior cabinet of the White House.[15] Brett Bruen, who confirmed the invitation's authenticity. "She continues to contribute time to serving civic and political causes, along with building a firm to help companies navigate global issues." She "As an Arabic speaker and well-connected expert in the Middle East, Jill Kelley spent years aiding our nation's military with high-level engagements across the region."[16]
Kelley served as Honorary Ambassador to U.S. Central Command in Tampa.[12] Kelley runs an advisory firm called Military Diplomacy Strategies LLC,[15] and is a founder of SafeGuard Surgical, a medical technology company,[17] and EdentifID, a blockchain technology company.[18][better source needed]
She speaks Arabic and has been recognized as one of the most globally instrumental Arab-American women.[15][19]
Recognition
Kelley was honored by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for work on behalf of United States Central Command and its international coalition.[13]
Controversies
In 2007, she founded the Doctor Kelley Cancer Foundation.[1] The foundation's mission was "to conduct cancer research. "[20] According to the State of Florida public records, the foundation is still active and self funded today.[21]
Jill Kelley started Kelley Land Holdings, a property company. The office building was foreclosed in 2010 during the housing crisis.[1] In 2012, she held the informal title Honorary Consul to South Korea.[1][13]
Petraeus Scandal
Jill and Scott Kelley met General David Petraeus when he was transferred to MacDill Air Force Base in November 2008. They quickly became friends, and had frequent dinner parties together. Through the Petraeuses, the Kelleys became close to other senior military personnel, including John R. Allen and Robert Harward.[11] In 2012, Kelley filed a complaint to the FBI that she was being harassed over email. The ensuing investigation uncovered that General Petraeus was having an extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, and that Broadwell had authored the emails to Kelley.[1] In 2016, Kelley published a memoir about her role in the Petraeus scandal.[14]
Personal life
She met Scott Kelley, a cancer surgeon, and the two married in 1998.[11] The couple has three children.[1]
Works
- Kelley, Jill (2016). Collateral Damage: Petraeus / Power / Politics And The Abuse Of Privacy. Kelley Publishing. ISBN 9780997406511.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Bengali, Shashank; Cloud, David S.; Tanfani, Joseph (November 14, 2012). "Jill Kelley, key figure in David Petraeus scandal, led lavish life". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024.
- ^ "Jill Kelley--Remember Her?--Plans a Party Wednesday at the Trump Hotel". Washingtonian. November 8, 2017. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "'Bullying': Petraeus friend Jill Kelley professors who pronounced wife uglier than mistress". Washington Examiner. December 19, 2019. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ Tweedie, Elisabeth (December 15, 2018). "Developments in the 5G Ecosystem". satellitemarkets.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ Ashley Fantz (October 20, 2020). "The Petraeus Affair: Who is Jill Kelley?". CNN Digital. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Clinton advisor bashed Jill Kelley in newly released emails". December 1, 2015. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ^ Altman, Howard (April 21, 2018). "Clinton advisor bashed Jill Kelley in newly released emails | tbo.com". Archived from the original on April 21, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ Jill Kelley e-mails depict a striving Tampa socialite and a smitten military brass. Archived April 6, 2023, at the Wayback Machine The Washington Post. Craig Whitlock, February 3, 2015.
- ^ Jill Kelley Plans A Party Wednesday at the Trump Hotel to Celebrate Donald Trump’s Victory Archived November 13, 2023, at the Wayback Machine. The Washingtonian. Elaina Plott, November 8, 2017.
- ^ "Jill Kelley, Medical Practice". jillkelley.net. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
Jill Kelley (born June 3, 1975) is an active humanitarian, dedicated to efforts both in the United States and around the world.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ward, Vicky (November 29, 2016). "The Bizarre Scandal That Brought Down General David Petraeus". Town & Country Magazine. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Whitlock, Craig (February 3, 2015). "Jill Kelley e-mails depict a striving Tampa socialite and a smitten military brass". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
At left is Jill's twin, Natalie Khawam.
- ^ a b c d Altman, Howard (December 1, 2015). "Clinton advisor bashed Jill Kelley in newly released emails". The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Joyce, Dennis (January 26, 2009). "Live coverage: Gasparilla parade and pirate invasion". Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Plott, Elaina (November 8, 2017). "Jill Kelley Plans A Party Wednesday at the Trump Hotel to Celebrate Donald Trump's Victory". The Washingtonian. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ "Jill Kelley Plans a Party Wednesday at the Trump Hotel to Celebrate Donald Trump's Victory - Washingtonian". November 8, 2017.
- ^ "SafeGuard Surgical Receives FDA "Breakthrough" Designation, Secures Funding from Tom Pepin and NFL QB Jameis Winston". Yahoo! Finance. March 14, 2024. Archived from the original on June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
Jill Kelley, COO and co-founder of SafeGuard Surgical...
- ^ "Digital ID | EdentifID". EdentifID.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "US Military Ambassador Jill Kelley to Outline New Satellite Cybersecurity Venture at DC5G".
- ^ "Doctor Kelley Cancer Foundation Inc". GuideStar. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ Cherkis, Jason; Wilkie, Christina (November 13, 2012). "Jill Kelley, Woman Who Sparked Petraeus Scandal, Ran Questionable Charity". HuffPost. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
By the end of 2007, the charity had gone bankrupt, having conveniently spent exactly the same amount of money, $157,284, as it started with -- not a dollar more, according to its 990 financial form.
External links
- JillKelley.com – personal website
- Military Diplomatic Strategies – Military Diplomatic Strategies
- Jill Kelley on X