New Illinois National Guard leader not impacted by state budget stalemate

Posted on June 13, 2015

By Dave Dahl/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – A state department head who may garner some envy is Adjutant Gen. Richard Hayes, of the Illinois National Guard.

That’s not just because thousands of his employees must salute him, but also because the state budget situation does not hurt him as much as it may others.

“Most of our funding, believe it or not, is federal,” Hayes said. “We have about a $429 million annual budget. Somewhere around $16 million is the state’s share of that.”

Activities of the 10,000-plus Guardsmen and -women include deployment in the Middle East and training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Hayes, who had a 27-year private-sector career, recently joined the Guard full-time. The promotion to adjutant general coincides with the retirement of Daniel Krumrei.

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