[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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              TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM D. COBETTO

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, there are some Americans who go above and 
beyond in service to our Nation. Major General William D. Cobetto, 
chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Military Affairs, is one 
of those individuals, and he recently retired after a decades-long 
career of dedicated service to Illinois. Our State and our Nation are 
better because of him.
  General Cobetto is Illinois through and through, and he represents 
the very best of us. He was born in Hillsboro, IL; grew up in Taylor 
Springs, IL; attended Hillsboro High School; and holds a bachelor of 
science in aeronautical administration from Saint Louis University. In 
1985, he received his commission from the Academy of Military Science 
in Knoxville, TN, but it did not take him long to return to serve the 
State he loves.
  He spent the next 30 years with the Illinois Air National Guard, 
including serving as commander of the 183rd Mission Support Group from 
2004 to 2007, and eventually providing leadership across the State as 
the Assistant Adjutant General-Air beginning in 2011. General Cobetto 
also attended the Air War College, and in 2003, he served at the 
Pentagon in support of the Air Force Crisis Action Team, as well as the 
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and 
Comptroller.
  In 2015, General Cobetto retired from military service with several 
awards and decorations under his belt, including the Meritorious 
Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the National Defense 
Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and several 
Illinois National Guard awards.
  Despite his military retirement, General Cobetto was not ready to 
stop serving Illinois. Seemingly not satisfied with only 30 years of 
service, he returned to the Illinois National Guard in a civilian 
capacity, serving first as legislative liaison and later as chief of 
staff for the Illinois Department of Military Affairs. In these roles, 
he continued to remain an incredible leader and advocate for our 
National Guardsmen and their families. He was always a reliable 
resource to my office and a trusted partner.
  I know General Cobetto is now looking forward to spending more time 
with his family, including his wife Kelly, their children Ashley, 
Jacob, Adam, and Emily, and their two grandchildren Adeline and Mason.
  I am forever grateful for General Cobetto's invaluable contributions 
to the great State of Illinois. My wife Loretta and I wish him all the 
best in this next, well-deserved chapter of his life.

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