Brigadier General Kelvin D. McElroy, an esteemed Fort Valley State College (FVSC) alumnus, has been selected as the Grand Marshal for the 2024 Homecoming Parade. 

McElroy earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fort Valley State College (FVSC) in 1994. That same year, he began his military career after being commissioned as a second lieutenant through FVSC’s Army Reserve Officer Training Program. Initially serving as an air defense artillery officer in the U.S. Army, he transitioned to the Air Force Reserve in 2000, where he has since held numerous key positions, including chief of supply and fuels, Air Force ROTC instructor, deputy of warfighter logistics, and maintenance squadron commander. 

As a leader, Brig. Gen. McElroy oversees a wide range of responsibilities, from activating individual Reservists for global missions to mobilizing entire combat-ready units in support of combatant commands. His expertise spans Air Force, Joint, and Combat Command exercises, ensuring a pool of prepared forces for various mission needs. 

McElroy's leadership journey has taken him through significant roles, such as commander of the 914th Maintenance Group at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York, and commander of the 512th Maintenance Group at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. He has also served in strategic capacities, including as Director of Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection for the 22nd Air Force at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, and as Associate Director of Logistics and Reserve Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at Headquarters Air Force in Arlington, Virginia. 

Before assuming his current role as Commander of the Force Generation Center, McElroy was the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Logistics, Civil Engineering, Force Protection, and Nuclear Integration at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command in Ohio. His extensive experience highlights his dedication to maintaining readiness and excellence in the Air Force Reserve. 

The 2024 Homecoming Parade will occur on Saturday, October 12, at 9 a.m. in downtown Fort Valley, Georgia. For more information about the parade and FVSU’s Homecoming celebration, visit www.FVSU.edu/Homecoming.