Favoritism'? Jill Kelley Was Awarded Joint Chiefs' Second-Highest Civilian Honor in 2011

Jill Kelley, the Florida socialite responsible for outing Gen. David Petraeus’ mistress, Paula Broadwell, in 2011 was awarded the Joint Chiefs of Staff Award for Outstanding Public Service, the Joint Chiefs’ second-highest civilian honor.

The award consists of a silver medal, lapel pin, citation and certificate signed by the chairman, said Navy Cmdr. Patrick McNally, spokesman for the office of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The reason for the award? Kelley’s “selfless contributions” and “willingness to host engagements” for politicians, foreign dignitaries, and military leaders.

“You're connected, you get it. You're not connected, you don't get it," Central Comand's (CentCom) Coalition Intelligence Center founder Col. E.J Otero, Ret., told FOX 13.

"When a senior national representative from the coalition had a visitor from another country coming into town, they would call her -- 'I have General such-and-such. Do you mind if we go and have dinner?'" he added.

Gen. Petraeus recommended her for the award while he was still commander of CentCom, according to the Tampa Tribune. Adm. Mike Mullen signed off on the recommendation.

Col. Otero suggest there may have been some favoritism at play in the decision to give Kelley the award.

"Soldiers that work in that command -- the captains, the majors, the sergeants, the master sergeants -- they don't have access to the four-star [general]. It's impossible to have access to the four-star," he said.

At a ceremony in Washington, D.C., last year, Gen. Petraeus personally presented Kelley with the award and a citation praising her for her, “outstanding public service to the United States Central Command, the MacDill Air Force Base community and the Department of Defense from October 31, 2008 to May 31, 2010.”

The citation continues, noting her work in “advancing various military endeavors” and her “willingness to host engagements with senior national representatives from more than 60 countries.”

“On multiple occasions, Mrs. Kelley invited senior national representatives, their spouses and senior leaders to her home to demonstrate their gratitude and support,” the citation reads.

Kelley and her husband were well-known in top political and military circles for their lavish cigar and caviar parties.

“These events promoted camaraderie, understanding and a better appreciation for coalition and military customs, concerns and abilities,” the citation notes.

Apparently, according to the citation, Kelley also helped Gen. Petraeus when he first took over CentCom.

“She [was] instrumental in introducing the commander, early in his tenure, to local and state officials, particularly the mayor of Tampa and the governor of Florida,” according to the citation.

“The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Mrs. Jill Kelley are in keeping with the finest traditions of public service and reflect great credit upon herself, United States Central Command and the Department of Defense.”

Along with the Petraeus/Broadwell sex circus, Kelley is also embroiled in a scandal involving allegedly inappropriate emails between her and the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen.

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Front Page photo courtesy WTSP.com