Photo By Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton | Lt. Col. Harold Larsen, the Professor of Military Science for the Northern Illinois...... read more read more
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Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, The Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, The Assistant Adjutant General - Army and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, recently administered the oath of office to 17 new U.S. Army second lieutenants during two separate university ROTC commissioning ceremonies. This surge in leadership marks a significant addition to the state's forces, as 10 of these newly commissioned officers have chosen to serve their communities and the nation within the ranks of the Illinois Army National Guard. On May 15, 2026, Maj. Gen. Boyd presided over the Northern Illinois University ROTC commissioning ceremony in DeKalb, Illinois, where he swore in 10 officers, five of whom are joining the Illinois Army National Guard. These new leaders include 2nd Lt. Mark Branklin, an Infantry officer with a degree in Kinesiology; 2nd Lt. Joci Diane Hasson, a Medical Services officer with a double major in Vision Rehabilitation and Nonprofit and Nongovernmental Organization Studies; 2nd Lt. Owen Lagger, a Field Artillery officer with a degree in Meteorology; 2nd Lt. Zack Lagina, a Field Artillery officer with a degree in Marketing; and 2nd Lt. Joshua Van Den Broeck, a Logistics officer who graduated with a degree in History. Earlier in the month, on May 8, 2026, Brig. Gen. Williams presided over the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ROTC commissioning ceremony. Of the seven officers sworn in during that ceremony, five have joined the Illinois Army National Guard: 2nd Lt. Gavynn Baer, a Medical Services officer with a degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology; 2nd Lt. Chase Hires, a Logistics officer with a degree in Business Administration and Supply Chain Management; 2nd Lt. Lannah Klaasen, a Logistics officer with a degree in the Science of Criminal Justice; 2nd Lt. KloeMae Malson, a Logistics officer with a degree in Business and Cyber Security; and 2nd Lt. Hayden Robinson, a Logistics officer with a degree in Business Administration. These 10 new lieutenants bring diverse academic expertise and a commitment to service that ensures the continued readiness and capability of the Illinois Army National Guard.
Notice:This press release was developed with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (Gemini Enterprise) for drafting and formatting purposes. The content was reviewed and verified for accuracy and appropriateness by relevant Department of War personnel prior to release in accordance with DoDI 5400.19.
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2026 22:57 |
| Story ID: | 565653 |
| Location: | SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 6 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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