Michael Haerr ’85 studied history and was an ROTC cadet at Illinois State. Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he entered active duty with the 101st Airborne Division.

He held numerous Illinois Guard jobs as a Department of Defense civilian, including battalion and brigade training technician and heavy mobile equipment repair supervisor.

Now deputy chief of staff-logistics, he supervises nearly 3,000. Deployed twice to Afghanistan, he received the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Polish Armed Forces Gold Medal, and a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.