HR0072 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0072 LRB103 30587 LAW 57026 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Major General Rodney Boyd on the occasion of his recent promotion in the Illinois National Guard; and

WHEREAS, MG Boyd was promoted to major general on February 4, 2023, becoming the highest-ranking officer of color in the nearly 300-year history of the Illinois National Guard; and

WHEREAS, MG Boyd grew up near Comiskey Park on the South Side of Chicago and attended Wendell Phillips High School; he earned his bachelor's degree in Criminology from Northern Illinois University, his Master of Arts in Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, and his Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College; and

WHEREAS, In civilian life, MG Boyd served as chief of the Village of Bellwood Police Department, retiring in 2013, and also worked in the private sector; and

WHEREAS, MG Boyd began his military career as a reservist for the U.S. Marine Corps in 1982; after completing his obligation with the Marines, he joined the Illinois Army National Guard and attended the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Camp Lincoln in Springfield in April 1989; upon completion in August 1990, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps; and

WHEREAS, MG Boyd's military education, in addition to completing Basic Training and OCS, includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, the Quartermaster Officer Advance Course, the Transportation Officer Advance Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School (CAS3), the Intermediate Leadership Education Course, the Theater Sustainment Command Course, the Combat Service Support Pre-Command Course, the Joint Combined Warfighter School-Hybrid, and the Dual Status Commander Course; and

WHEREAS, MG Boyd has held many leadership and staff positions during his more than 35 years of service in the Illinois National Guard; prior to his elevation to major general, he was promoted to brigadier general in March 2020, becoming only the second Black American to hold this title; he then assumed the role of assistant adjutant general in July 2021, becoming the first Black American to ever command the State's 10,000 Army National Guard citizen-soldiers; and

WHEREAS, MG Boyd has earned a number of military awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; and

WHEREAS, MG Boyd is married to Darlene Boyd, and they have two adult sons, Rodney Jr. and Randy, and one grandson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Major General Rodney Boyd on his promotion and thank him for his continued service to the State of Illinois and the United States; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to MG Boyd as an expression of our esteem and respect.