Major General Rodney Boyd is the 41st Adjutant General of the State of Illinois and serves on the Governor’s cabinet as the Director of the Illinois Department of Military Affairs. General Boyd is the commander for both the Illinois Army and Air National Guard where he is responsible for daily operations and oversees approximately 13,000 military members, 2,200 fulltime military and federal employees, and 230 civilian state employees.
As the commander of the Illinois National Guard, General Boyd is responsible for the training, preparation, and deployment of Soldiers and Airmen in support of combat operations worldwide and in support to civil authorities in Illinois in response to manmade and natural disasters.
Previously General Boyd served as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Illinois Army National Guard and was the Assistant Chief of Staff, J4 (Wartime), United States Forces Korea.
General Boyd began his military career as a Marine Corps Reservist in 1982. After completing his obligation with the Marines, he joined the Illinois Army National Guard. In April 1989, General Boyd attended the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Upon completion in August of 1990, he commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps.
In addition to completing Basic Training and OCS, General Boyd’s military education includes Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Quartermaster Officer Advance Course, Transportation Officer Advance Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School (CAS3), Intermediate Leadership Education Course, Theater Sustainment Command Course, Combat Service Support Pre-Command Course, the U.S. Army War College, the Joint Combined Warfighter School-Hybrid and the Dual Status Commander Course.
General Boyd has held many leadership and staff positions during his more than thirty-four years of commissioned service including Materiel Maintenance Officer, HHC 108th Support Battalion (BN); Platoon Leader, A Company, 108th Support BN; Platoon Leader, 1244th Transportation Company, 108th Support BN; Plans and Operations Officer, 1/65th Troop Command Brigade (BDE); Commander, 1644th Transportation Company; Detachment Commander, DET 2 STARC, 1/65th Troop Command BDE; Material Management Officer, HHC 404th Chemical BDE; S3, Kabul, Afghanistan, 33rd Area Support Group; Supply Management Officer, 108th Sustainment BDE; Executive Officer, Logistics Management and Transition Team, 108th Sustainment BDE FWD; Branch Chief Supply, Joint Forces Headquarters; Commander, HHC, 405th Brigade Support BN; S3, 108th Sustainment BDE; Commander, 108th Sustainment BDE and J5, Director of Strategic Plans & Policies.
Some of his military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
General Boyd received a bachelor’s degree in Criminology from Northern Illinois University, a Master of Arts degree in Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle and a second Master of Arts degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. General Boyd is married to Darlene Boyd and together they have two children (Rodney Jr., Randy) and one grandson.
As of May 2024