BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT J. PRATT

Director, Joint Staff, Illinois Joint Force Headquarters

Brigadier General Robert J. Pratt is Director, Joint Staff, Illinois Joint Force Headquarters, Illinois National Guard, Springfield, Illinois. He is responsible for the development and coordination of all joint policies, programs and plans that affect Illinois' 13,000 Army and Air National Guard personnel.

General Pratt was commissioned in 1983 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Western Illinois University. General Pratt previously served as Commander, 404th Chemical Brigade during transition to the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and as Commander, 66th Infantry Brigade during transition to the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He has commanded two companies and three battalions. Prior to receiving his commission, General Pratt served as an enlisted member of the Illinois Army National Guard.

EDUCATION:

1985 University of Illinois, Bachelor of Science, Agronomy, Champaign, Illinois
2003 United States Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
2008 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2011 Contingency Dual Status Commander Qualification Program, Colorado Springs, Colorado

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1983 - June 1986, Platoon Leader, Company A, 1-123rd Infantry Battalion, Peoria, Illinois
2. June 1986 - September 1986, Executive Officer, Company A, 1-123rd Infantry Battalion, Peoria, Illinois
3. September 1986 - November 1989, Commander, Company A, 1-123rd Infantry Battalion, Peoria, Illinois
4. November 1989 - September 1991, Commander, 1-123rd Infantry Battalion, Bloomington, Illinois
5. September 1991 - October 1993, S-2, 1-123rd Infantry Battalion, Bloomington, Illinois
6. October 1993 - October 1994, S-3, 1-123rd Infantry Battalion, Bloomington, Illinois
7. October 1994 - October 1996, Executive Officer, 1-123rd Infantry Battalion, Bloomington, Illinois
8. October 1996 - October 1998, S-3, 66th Infantry Brigade, 35th Infantry Division, Decatur, Illinois
9. October 1998 - October 1999, Commander, 1-123rd Infantry Battalion, Bloomington, Illinois
10. October 1999 - December 2001, Commander, 2-130th Infantry Battalion, Urbana, Illinois
11. December 2001 - July 2002, Commander, General Studies Battalion, 129th Regional Training Institute, Springfield, Illinois
12. July 2002 - June 2003, Student, United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
13. June 2003 - April 2006, Commander, 66th Infantry Brigade, 35th Infantry Division, Decatur, Illinois
14. April 2006 - June 2006, Commander, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Urbana, Illinois
15. July 2006 - September 2006, Strategic Planner, Illinois Joint Force Headquarters, Springfield, Illinois
16. September 2006 - November 2006, Embedded Training Team, Joint Force Headquarters, Springfield, Illinois
17. November 2006 - October 2007, Strategic Planner, Illinois Joint Force Headquarters, Springfield, Illinois
18. October 2007 - April 2008, Assistant Adjutant General- Army, Illinois National Guard, Illinois Joint Force Headquarters, Springfield, Illinois
19. April 2008 - August 2011, Commander, 404th Chemical Brigade, Chicago, Illinois
20. September 2011 - Present, Director, Joint Staff, Illinois National Guard, Illinois Joint Force Headquarters, Springfield, Illinois

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Illinois Distinguished Service Medal
Illinois Military Medal of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Long and Honorable Service (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Military Attendance Ribbon (with Numeral 15)
State Active Duty Ribbon (with Numeral 4)
Ranger Tab
Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

General Pratt operates a 600 acre grain farm in Central Illinois.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

National Guard Association of Illinois
National Guard Association of the United States
American Legion Post 93
Farm Bureau

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

1989 Distinguished Honor Graduate of Infantry Officer Advanced Course
1990 Illinois National Guard Association Meritorious Service Award and Certificate
1992 66th Infantry Brigade Douglas MacArthur Award Recipient
1998 Air Assault School Honor Graduate
2004 Inducted into the Olympia High School Alumni Hall of Fame
2004 Published Article in Parameters, US Army War College Quarterly Journal, Invasive Threats to the Homeland

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant USAR 14 May 1983
Second Lieutenant ARNG 27 May 1983
First Lieutenant ARNG 13 May 1986
Captain ARNG 02 October 1987
Major ARNG 03 November 1993
Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 30 December 1998
Colonel ARNG 30 June 2003
Brigadier General ARNG 15 October 2008

(Current as of April 2012)