Who is Colonel Brian Kelly from Welcome to the Monkey House and what is their importance?

Colonel Kelly is on the plane going to India, where he and his family will now live so he can be a military attaché. Kelly is a leader and uses his learned military skills to try to beat Pi Ying at his chess game. He is suspicious of Barzov's role in the proceedings from the start. He believes Barzov is controlling Pi Ying.