Patrick DeGeorge

I am a retired Sergeant First Class from the Illinois Army National Guard with a career spanning more than 20 years. Throughout his service, he held multiple Military Occupational Specialties, including 14M, 19D, 46Q, and 46Z. I have served in a variety of units , including 1st Battalion, 202nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment; 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment; 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment; Headquarters, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team; and the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

I deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, supporting combat and public affairs missions, and participated in multinational training exercises in Europe and the Middle East. My career highlights include support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and major training operations such as Anaconda Saber in Poland, Operation Eager Lion in Jordan, and observer/controller duties in Hohenfels, Germany.

I am a graduate of the Defense Information School (DINFOS) and have earned numerous military awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with 3 bronze oak leaf clusters), and the Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, among many others.

In civilian life, I continue to serve my community as the Public Relations Specialist for Township High School District 211 in Palatine, Illinois, and as an elected member of the Board of Education for McHenry Elementary District 15. I am also an active member of several professional and veteran organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, INSPRA (Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association), the First Cavalry Division Association, the Air Defense Artillery Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.