Representative Kaelin served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1968 to 1971 and was awarded the National Defense Medal for his service.  After leaving the Service, Representative Kaelin worked for nearly ten years as a commercial fisherman, operating from a variety of Maine and New England ports.  During that time he enrolled in the University of Rhode Island earning an Associate of Science Degree in Commercial Fisheries and Marine Technology in 1976, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Resource Development in 1978 and a Masters of Marine Affairs Degree in 1980. 

During the early 1980s, Representative Kaelin worked in Washington, D.C. for U.S. Senator William Cohen and the U.S. House of Representative’s Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.  In 1986 he returned to Maine as the Executive Director of the Maine Sardine Council, which was dissolved in 2000.  Representative Kaelin is currently a self-employed Marine Contractor.

Representative Kaelin is involved in many civic and professional organizations.  He is an original member of the Council on Farming, Fishing and Forestry.  Representative Kaelin serves on the Winterport Water and Sewer Districts’ Board of Trustees as Treasurer, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum and the Board of the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, has advised the New England Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and is the past Chairman of both the Department of Marine Resources Advisory Council and the Maine Oil Spill Advisory Commission.  Representative Kaelin also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Finance Authority of Maine for seven years until 2001 and the Maine Aquaculture Association until his election to the House of Representatives in 2002.  He is also a member of the Winterport American Legion Post 138.

Representative Kaelin resides in Winterport with his two sons, Julian and Gabriel.  Representative Kaelin’s hobbies include boating, fishing, lobstering and ice hockey.