OPAA Member Profile:
Charles F. Kennedy, III
Van Wert County Prosecutor
Charles (Charlie) Kennedy was elected Van Wert County Prosecuting Attorney in November 1988. A life-long resident of Van Wert County, Kennedy is a 1966 graduate of Van Wert High School and was engaged in private law practice in Van Wert from 1979 to June 2009 when he retired to become a full-time prosecutor. A 1970 graduate of Bowling Green State University, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in history and political science. Upon graduation, Kennedy was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia where he was trained as an infantry officer and in the Ranger, Airborne (parachute) and Jumpmaster Schools. During 1972 he was assigned as a platoon leader to the 7th U.S. Cavalry in Vietnam, the last American ground combat unit in Vietnam. He also spent five months as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Army. He received a Bronze Star as a result of his service in Vietnam as well as the Combat Infantry Badge. Kennedy later joined the U.S. Army Reserve as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps. He was recalled to active duty during “Operation Desert Storm”. Kennedy’s assignments as a legal officer have taken him back to Fort Benning and have included assignments to Panama, Korea and Italy. Kennedy retired from the Army Reserve in January of 2006 with the rank of Colonel. In December 1975, Kennedy received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma where he majored in politics and public policy. Upon resigning his Regular Army commission in 1976, Kennedy entered law school at Ohio Northern University. During law school Kennedy was chosen a member of the Law Review and served as one of its editors. Prosecutor Kennedy has been married for forty-six years to the former Janie Elder. They have three children, Jill Groves of New Haven, Indiana, Tyson who owns and operates his own landscaping company near Delaware, Ohio, and Mike who is a civilian consultant to various entities doing business with the Department of the Army at Fort Benning. They have seven grandchildren.