The Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Daniel Hokanson, has named an Illinois Army National Guard officer who fought in Iraq and has more than 30 years’ experience in finance, logistics and human resources as the United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Illinois.
Colonel Brian Creech of Petersburg will replace Colonel Melissa Beauman as the USPFO for Illinois after Beauman retires on October 1 after more than 32 years of military service. Creech has served as the deputy USPFO since 2016. Under the leadership of Col. Beauman and Col. Creech, Illinois has been at the top or near the top of the nation for fiscal accountability and auditability. In 2018 and 2019, the USPFO for Illinois was awarded the national Fiscal Stewardship Award. In 2019, Illinois also won the Guardian of Contract Excellence Award for its improvements in the acquisition process.
“The USPFO’s job is to protect the taxpayers’ investment in the National Guard and no one has done that better than Col. Beauman and Col. Creech in Illinois,” said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard. “I look forward to working with Col. Creech in his new capacity as the USPFO for Illinois and the Illinois National Guard continue to set the standard for fiscal integrity and accountability.”
The USPFO occupies a unique position as the only National Guard officer within Illinois to report directly to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Col. Creech will be responsible for receiving and accounting for all funds and property of the United States government in possession of the Illinois National Guard. He will ensure federal funds are obligated and expended in conformance with applicable statutes and regulations, and will report on federal funds and property as directed by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau or either the Secretary of the Army or Secretary of the Air Force. He will also advise and assist Illinois National Guard units and programs to ensure federal property is used in accordance with Army, Air Force and National Guard Bureau directives.
“I’m excited to continue the excellent work Colonel Beauman has done and I also recognize the tremendous responsibility of the USPFO,” Creech said. “The USPFO needs to ensure federal funds and property are used within the bounds of law even during emergencies. At times that means saying ‘no,’ and then assisting commanders in accomplishing their missions within fiscal law. There can be no short-cuts when we do our work on behalf of the American taxpayer.”
Creech began his military career in 1986 as an Infantry ‘grunt,’ spending 10 years as a Soldier and then NCO with the Company A, 1st Battalion, 123rd Infantry Regiment. He was commissioned in 1996 and spent two years as an Infantry platoon leader before transitioning to logistics where he served as a platoon leader and battalion staff officer until taking command the 3637th Maintenance Co. from 2001 to 2003.
He would serve as the operations and intelligence officer with the 232nd Corps Support Battalion from 2003 to 2006 during which time the battalion would deploy to Iraq. Creech would receive the Combat Action Badge during this deployment. After the deployment, Creech would hold multiple key staff positions, mostly in operations, plans, finance and logistics, including a full-time tour at National Guard Bureau from 2010 to 2012 as a program analyst. From 2013 to 2016 he would command the 405th Brigade Support Battalion.
Concurrent with many of his traditional Guard military assignments, Creech would serve full-time in staff positions within contracting, finance, budgeting, logistics, human resources and planning. Creech holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is a graduate of multiple courses and certifications in the areas of finance, contracting, accounting, logistics, operations, management, law and leadership.
He has been awarded the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster among many other awards and decorations.
Creech is married to Stephanie and they have four children; Zach, Ethan, Dylan, and Bryson. Zach is a staff sergeant in the Illinois Army National Guard’s 2118th Asphalt Detachment. Creech is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6871 in Petersburg, the American Society of Military Comptrollers, the National Guard Association of Illinois, the National Guard Association of the United States and the Military Officers Association of America.
He is also active in his local church. He and Stephanie recently enrolled in ballroom dancing lessons.