[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 30, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD R. NEELY

 Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the remarkable career of Maj. Gen. Richard R. Neely, a 40-year 
servicemember of the Illinois Army National Guard who will retire on 
May 31, 2024. Major General Neely served as the 40th adjutant general 
of the State of Illinois and was the director of the Illinois 
Department of Military Affairs.
  As the adjutant general, Major General Neely oversaw the Federal 
overseas deployments of 4,800 soldiers and airmen to 21 countries 
around the world and 5,600 servicemembers on State Active Duty 
exceeding 500,000 duty days combined. Major General Neely served as the 
adjutant general since February 2019. Beginning in 2020, Major General 
Neely directed the largest and longest domestic operations activation 
in Illinois National Guard history in response to the COVID-19 
pandemic. Illinois National Guard soldiers and airmen assisted with 
250,000 COVID-19 tests, delivered 8 million masks, administered nearly 
2 million vaccines throughout the State among many other support 
missions. Major General Neely further oversaw the Illinois National 
Guard's State Partnership Program with Poland. During one mission, the 
Illinois National Guard servicemembers provided direct training support 
to Poland's newly formed territorial defense force in the wake of 
Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Due to Major General Neely's exceptional 
efforts, he was awarded the Polish Commanders Cross with Silver Star 
Order of Merit from the President of Poland in 2022. Throughout his 
entire career, Major General Neely led by example, providing a steady 
hand through some of the most tumultuous times in the history of our 
State and our Nation. The Illinois National Guard is better because of 
General Neely's service.
  Major General Neely was also the Nation's first cyberspace officer to 
serve as an adjutant general and was a nationwide leader in cyber 
security. He was the senior cyber adviser to the Chief and Vice Chief 
of the National Guard Bureau, national lead for implementation of the 
Nationwide Integration of Time Resiliency for Operations (NITRO) 
program, vice chair of the National Guard Bureau's Cyber General 
Officer Advisory Council, chair of the Army National Guard's 
Information (Cyber) Readiness Advisory Council, and the senior adviser 
for Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure for U.S. Northern 
Command's Dual Status Commanders Course.
  Major General Neely's leadership, determination, and commitment have 
no doubt changed lives and helped to make our country safer. As his Air 
Force career ends, may he continue to be ``Always Ready, Always 
There!'' and forever take pride in knowing that his exemplary efforts 
and unwavering professionalism contributed greatly to the success of 
the Air Force and the National Guard mission.

                          ____________________