Colonel Lenny Williams was appointed Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois Army National Guard, on August 30, 2024. His previous assignment was as the Chief of Staff, Illinois Army National Guard from May 2020 to March 2024 where he served as the state’s senior federal Army National Guard management official, and the principle executive assistant and advisor to the Adjutant General. In his current role, he will serve as the advisor to the Adjutant General in all matters pertaining to supervision and management of the Illinois Department of Military Affairs and the Illinois Army National Guard, which consists of over 1,400 full-time Soldiers and employees and over 10,000 citizen-Soldiers.
Colonel Williams joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 1991 and spent nine years as an enlisted Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant. In 2000 he earned a commission as a Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery Officer through the Officer Candidate School at the Illinois National Guard’s 129th Regional Training Institute.
Colonel Williams has held a variety of command and staff assignments to include Battery Fire Directions Officer, Battery Executive Officer, Battery Executive Officer (Deployed), Battery Commander, Company Commander (Deployed), Afghanistan Police Mentor Team Chief (Deployed), Battalion Officer-In-Charge, Brigade Officer-In-Charge, Battalion Commander, Brigade Commander, Director of Logistics (G4), Director of Plans, Operations and Training (G3), and Chief of Staff.
Colonel Williams’ military education includes Infantry Advanced Individual Training, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Officer Candidate School, Field Artillery Officer Basic, Field Artillery Captains Career Courses, Strategic Plans and Management Course, Joint Domestic Operations Course, Dual Status Commander Course, Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.
Colonel Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Colonel Williams is a qualified Field Artillery Officer, Military Police Officer, Logistics Officer and has successfully completed assignments in all of these branches.
Colonel Williams has numerous awards and decorations, most notably including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Afghan Campaign Medal w/Campaign Star, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, NATO ribbon, Achievement Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with star, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral two, Combat Action Badge, and various other federal and state awards.
Colonel Williams is married to Liane Kelly and together they have one daughter (Morgan).
Updated 30 AUG 2024