Danette Hayes pins major general rank on her husband Richard J. Hayes Jr., the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard as Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner looks on during a promotion ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois Aug. 24.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, the Commander-in-Chief of the Illinois National Guard, promoted Illinois Adjutant General, Richard J. Hayes Jr., to major general during an Aug. 24 ceremony at the Illinois National Guard Headquarters on Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

Rauner selected Hayes as the adjutant general and for his second star in May based on Hayes’ extensive military and civilian background. His eligibility for promotion was processed through the Department of the Army and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier this month.

“It is a great honor to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Illinois National Guard and to promote our state’s top military officer. Major General Hayes has the right combination of leadership and expertise to prepare the Illinois National Guard to tackle major emergencies both here in Illinois and overseas,” Rauner said. “His experience commanding a battalion during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, a brigade maneuver task force with NATO in Kosovo, and with his 27 years as a leader in the civilian engineering and construction sector illustrates why Richard Hayes epitomizes the true meaning a Citizen-Soldier.”

Hayes’ promotion coincides with the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States, striking U.S. soil Aug. 29, 2005. Hayes led a battalion-sized relief task force in New Orleans. Many of the lessons Hayes and other leaders learned from Hurricane Katrina are being practiced this week, Aug. 24-28, during the simulated 7.7 magnitude earthquake Prairie Assurance exercise in Springfield. The exercise in being conducted with participation agencies from the State of Illinois, non-governmental organizations, National Guard Bureau, and US Northern Command.

“During my career I never concerned myself with becoming a general, never mind earning a second star,” Hayes said. “I simply focused on excelling at every assignment I was given, sought to continually improve myself, and set a good example for my troops. I am humbled by this promotion and the opportunity to serve as the Illinois Adjutant General. I recognize the great responsibility bestowed on me and I will apply all of my talents to effectively lead the dedicated Soldiers and Airmen of the Illinois National Guard as we serve the Citizens of Illinois and our Nation.”

— Gov. Rauner promotes Illinois adjutant general to major general —