The Illinois National Guard's Lincoln's ChalleNGe Academy

Senate President John J. Cullerton earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago, as well as a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University's School of Law. While a student, he served as President of the Loyola University Chicago Student Bar Association. Cullerton began his career in law by serving as a Cook County Assistant Public Defender for five years before he went into private practice. He currently is a partner with the law firm of Thompson Coburn. In 1978, he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly and served as a member of the House of Representatives for twelve years. In 1991, he was appointed to fill Dawn Clark Netsch's Senate seat. The following year Cullerton was elected to the Illinois Senate. On January 14, 2009, Cullerton was elected to his first two-year term as President of the Illinois Senate. In this capacity, Cullerton lead the Senate during the impeachment trial and removal of former Governor Rod Blagojevich. Cullerton has been re-elected Senate President for three two-year terms. He now presides over the largest Senate caucus in America.

Colonel Stephen F. Baggerly is the Director of Staff – Air, Joint Forces Headquarters, Illinois Air National Guard, Springfield, IL. As the DOS-Air, he oversees the daily operations of the headquarters staff and directs activities of his staff members in the areas of strategic planning, policy implementation, personnel services, logistics, recruiting and retention, facilities, security and force protection, along with homeland security and homeland defense. He works daily with his Army National Guard counterparts within the state headquarters. He serves on the Financial Management Board and is assigned to the Adaptive Battle Staff, JFHQ during times of natural and man-made disasters. He acts on behalf of the Assistant Adjutant General for Air in times of his absence. He is also the Federal Management and Contracting Officer for the Lincoln’s Challenge Youth Program located in Rantoul, IL. He also serves as management representative for union matters working with the three Air National Guard wings within Illinois, as well as an Audit Focal Point working with the USPFO for Illinois. Colonel Baggerly is also Commander, Joint Task Force – South (IL) and is a graduate of the NORTHCOM Joint Task Force Commander’s Course and the USAF Incident Management Course. As the commander of JTF-South, Col Baggerly ensures the readiness of his command and control team in times of disasters; natural or man-made. He works to ensure that the National Guard in Illinois is able to provide Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) in times of need. He works with NGOs and Inter-agencies to coordinate and provide manpower and resources in times of need. He works closely with the Illinois WMD-CST and the Illinois CERF-P organizations. Col Baggerly has commanded Army and Air Guard troops in three major State of Illinois responses. He served as the Joint Task Force Commander of Operation Mississippi Western Response in Illinois where he led a response of Air and Army National Guard personnel called to State Active Duty during the floods of 2008. He also led the Joint Task Force-South and subordinate Task Forces during the 2011 Operation WHITEOUT winter storm in Illinois. He served as the Military Liaison Officer and the Deputy Operations Section Chief at the Marion, IL Unified Area Command Center during the 2011 Ohio and Mississippi River flooding in Southern Illinois. He was the Title 32 Deputy Commander during the recent NATO Summit (NSSE) held in Chicago, IL in May 2012 serving as the National Guard Commander under the recently enacted Dual Status Command structure. Colonel Baggerly was a distinguished graduate of the F-4 Phantom Replacement Training Unit (RTU) at McConnell AFB, KS. He was a navigator and Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) with more than 700 flight hours in fighter aircraft. Col Baggerly has participated in broad missions such as Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and the State Partnership for Peace program.

Brigadier General William D. Cobetto is Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Illinois National Guard. He is responsible for the command, control and operations of plans and programs affecting more than 3,000 Illinois Air National Guard personnel located at Scott Air Force Base, Peoria, and Springfield, Illinois. His broad range of responsibilities include ensuring combat readiness and mission capability of three major air bases comprised of flying wings, command and control facilities, logistics and mission support units, providing combat trained personnel to meet all United States Air Force mission requirements. General Cobetto also supervises a full-time force of over 900 federal and state employees. General Cobetto received his commission in 1985 from the Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tennessee. During his career he has served in several key positions. As Commander, 183rd Fighter Wing Mission Support Group, he directed and monitored support activities and units ensuring cohesive integration of functions and resources. Prior to that, he provided sound fiscal guidance as Comptroller, 183rd Fighter Wing. Of special note, General Cobetto was mobilized in 2003 and served at the Pentagon assisting the Air Force Crisis Action Team and the Secretary of the Air Force Financial Management.

Major General Donald W. Lynn is the former Adjutant General for the State of Illinois. General Lynn was born on April 2, 1938, in Virginia, Illinois. He graduated from Athens High School in 1956 and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York in Albany, New York. General Lynn joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 1955 and after serving eight years as an enlisted soldier, was commissioned from the Officer Candidate School in November 1963. His first assignment was as the Training Officer for Headquarters Detachment, Illinois Army National Guard. After serving as the Detachment's Operations and Training Officer, he commanded the 258th Supply and Service Company. Following assignments as State Procurement Officer, Comptroller, and Deputy Director of Logistics, he assumed command of the 232nd Supply and Service Battalion in September of 1979. In September, 1982, he was appointed Commander, 66th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and in October, 1984, he became Chief of Staff, Illinois Army National Guard. On April 12, 1988, General Lynn was appointed as Assistant Adjutant General, Illinois Army National Guard. General Lynn was appointed as the Adjutant General of Illinois on 9 November 1991 and received federal recognition as a Major General on 6 October 1992. He retired as The Adjutant General 15 January 1995 and was appointed the Administrator of the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy, Illinois, retiring from this position 1 July 1998. The General's civic affiliations include the National Guard Association of the United States the National Guard Association of Illinois, the American Legion and the AMVETS.

Director Peter Thomas - After serving 30 years in the United States Army, one combat tour in the Dominican Republic, three consecutive combat tours in the Republic of Vietnam and traveling throughout the United States, Director Thomas decided upon his retirement from the military in 1993 to continue in the service of helping others. With that, he found his home with the Lincoln’s Challenge Academy as Deputy Director. In June of 2000 he was named as Director of the Lincoln's Challenge Academy. Director Thomas administers and affects the affairs of the Lincoln’s Challenge Academy daily. He formulates, directs and controls facility programs and fosters community and civic relations. He serves as a member of the State Advisory Committee and knows the value of preparing youth for the future. It is under Director Thomas' guidance that the Academy has graduated over 14,200 cadets and of the 14,200 cadets a total of 9,896 cadets have received their GED while at the Academy.

The Illinois National Guard's Lincoln's ChalleNGe Academy (LCA) is a federally-funded youth program for 16 to 18 year old at-risk youth. LCA's mission is to train, mentor, and develop selected applicants into contributing members of their communities by providing life application skills through a variety of activities based on the 8-core objectives. LCA's vision for the future is to mold the youth of today to meet the challenges of tomorrow, armed with the values and integrity of our forefathers and the strength of one nation.