Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Andrew Adamczyk, of Springfield, Illinois, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in a COVID-19-modified ceremony Aug. 14 in Springfield, Illinois.
Adamczyk serves as the Illinois Army National Guard Deputy Director of J5 Strategic Planning and Policy, where he identifies, plans and develops strategic initiatives for the Illinois National Guard.
“With greater rank comes greater responsibility,” said Col. Lenny A. Williams, Chief of Staff, Illinois Army National Guard. “Of the 740 Active Guard and Reserve Soldiers in the Illinois Army National Guard, 17 are lieutenant colonels. We place an enormous amount of expectations on our lieutenant colonels. This is a well-deserved promotion.”
Adamczyk, who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1995, joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 2000 and served with Company A, 133rd Signal Battalion, based in Crestwood, Illinois, and Company C, 341st Military Intelligence Company, based in Chicago, Illinois, before earning his commission as a second lieutenant through the Illinois National Guard Officer Candidate School in 2003.
“Thank you to my family and loved ones for their support,” Adamczyk said. “We can’t achieve our mission and goals without their support. I appreciate those of you who were able to attend for the camaraderie and friendship over the years.”
Adamczyk also thanked the Illinois National Guard, which has ‘been a home for me for 20 years.’
“I’ve had great assignments and great opportunities and for that I’ll be forever grateful,” he said. “I don’t take the responsibility entrusted to me lightly.”
Adamczyk also serves as the vice president and co-founder of Gold Star Mission, a non-profit organizations that honors and supports Gold Star families by preserving the memory of fallen Illinois service members.
“I am proud to be part of that mission,” he said. “It is a mission that continues paying tribute to Illinois heroes who came before us and their families.”