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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate Devin R. Pepper on being 
4confirmed by the United States Senate as Brigadier General in 
5the United States Space Force, the sixth and newest uniformed 
6service of the U.S. Armed Forces, on March 22, 2021; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, General Pepper was officially promoted to the 
8rank of Brigadier General on June 7, 2021, making him the first 
9African American General Officer in the United States Space 
10Force; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, General Pepper became the first "Mustang" 
12(prior-enlisted) General Officer in the United States Space 
13Force, having served seven years enlisted in the Air Force; 
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, General Pepper currently serves as the Deputy 
16Director of the Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate, United 
17States Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; and
 
18    WHEREAS, General Pepper, prior to becoming a Brigadier 
19General in the United States Space Force, was the Commander of 
20the Buckley Garrison, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, 
21overseeing four domestic bases and stations and 10 
 
 
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1international installations; and
 
2    WHEREAS, General Pepper also served as the Commander of 
3the 460th Space Wing at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, 
4where he commanded Air Force Space Command's largest 
5operations group with 23 operations in nine countries; and
 
6    WHEREAS, General Pepper has served in various assignments 
7across the United States and internationally during his 
832-year career in the Air Force; domestically, he served at 
9the Pentagon, Maxwell Air Force Base (LA), Vandenberg Air 
10Force Base (CA), Minot Air Force Base (ND), Barksdale Air 
11Force Base (LA), Offutt Air Force Base (NE), and Peterson Air 
12Force Base (CO); internationally, he served in South Korea, 
13the United Kingdom, and Fallujah, Iraq; and
 
14    WHEREAS, General Pepper has received numerous awards and 
15decorations, including the Air Force Commander's Medal, the 
16Iraq Campaign Bronze Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service 
17Award, the Air Force Space Command Crewmember Excellence 
18Award, and the United States Air Force Verne Orr Award; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, General Pepper has received a number of degrees 
20and certifications, including a Bachelor of Science from 
21University of Maryland, a Master of Arts from George 
22Washington University, and a Master of Business Administration 
 
 
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1from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; he attended the 
2National War College in Washington D.C.; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, General Pepper, along with his twin brother 
4Donovan Pepper, is a 1987 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest 
5High School; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Throughout his career and  accomplishments, 
7General Pepper has enjoyed the loving support of his wife of 15 
8years, Alicia, and his children, Madilyn and Lukas; therefore, 
9be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
11HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
12we congratulate Devin R. Pepper on being confirmed by the 
13United States Senate as Brigadier General in the United States 
14Space Force, and we wish him many successful years; and be it 
15further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to General Pepper as a symbol of our respect and 
18esteem.