Hometown Military News: Aug. 28, 2015
Governor Appoints Illinois State Police Colonel to Lead Illinois Army National Guard
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner, the Commander-in-Chief of the Illinois National Guard, has appointed Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia to serve as the full-time Assistant Adjutant General – Army after a long and distinguished career with the Illinois State Police.
Zerbonia was serving as the Illinois National Guard’s Land Forces Component Commander, a traditional National Guard position, while serving fulltime with the Illinois State Police as the Colonel of Operations. He will leave the State Police after 28 years to become the full-time Commander of the 10,000 Soldiers of the Illinois Army National Guard serving under Illinois National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, who commands both the Illinois Army National Guard and the Illinois Air National Guard.
“For decades Mike Zerbonia has been a great leader and public servant with both the Illinois Army National Guard and the Illinois State Police,” Rauner said. “He has clearly demonstrated his ability to lead troops and build partnerships across state and federal agencies. He is a combat veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan with more than 30 years of military experience who has the confidence and trust of his soldiers.”
Rauner selected Zerbonia on a recommendation from Maj. Gen. Hayes.
“Brig. Gen. Zerbonia is the right officer to lead the Illinois Army National Guard as it continues to go from strong to stronger. He has proven his ability to lead and provide the strategic direction for the Illinois Army National Guard preparing for both our state and federal missions. I know that he loves serving as an Illinois State Police trooper and know it was a difficult personal and professional decision to leave the ISP to work at Illinois National Guard headquarters full-time. I am grateful to have Mike Zerbonia serve alongside me,” Maj. Gen. Hayes said.
Zerbonia said taking off his Illinois State Police uniform is difficult, but he was honored to be asked to serve as the Illinois National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General – Army.
“Commanding the Illinois Army National Guard is both a great opportunity and challenge. The Illinois Army National Guard has a no-fail contract with the citizens of Illinois and the United States. We have met many great challenges and succeeded, but we have many more ahead. It is a great privilege and honor to lead our great men and women who have willingly committed to helping our neighbors, protecting our state and defending our nation.”
Zerbonia’s last military assignment was as the Illinois Army National Guard’s Land Forces Component Commander, a position he was appointed to in June 2013. He enlisted as a military policeman in the Missouri Army National Guard in 1983 and later commissioned as a second lieutenant May 9, 1986 after completing the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Northeast Missouri State University. In 1988, then Lieutenant Zerbonia transferred to the active Army as an air defense artillery officer. He later joined the Illinois National Guard in 1991 as the assistant air defense coordination officer with the 1st Battalion, 202nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
Zerbonia has served in many critical roles at all levels of command and staff in his career. He has served as a battery commander, commander of the 1st Battalion, 202nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, team chief of the 244th Army Liaison Team, commander of the 108th Sustainment Brigade and commander of the Bilateral Embedded Support Team (BEST) A10.
General Zerbonia supported military operations in Poland, Turkey and Germany. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2005 to June 2006 and to Afghanistan from September 2012 to June 2013 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Retired Eureka Soldier Receives Legion of Merit
SPRINGFIELD – Col. Michael Haerr, who retired in May after 33 years in the Illinois Army National Guard was presented with the Legion of Merit at a ceremony on Camp Lincoln in Springfield on Aug. 25.
The award cited Haerr’s exceptionally meritorious service over the course of his career, which culminated as the Deputy Chief of Staff of Logistics.
Over the course of Haerr’s career he held two commands with 1st Battalion, 123rd Infantry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, earning five Meritorious Service Medals along the way. He was also a full-time military technician for 25 years.
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