Embassy Events 2006
Adjutant General of Illinois visits Poland
31 January 2006
 |
Major General (IL) Randal E. Thomas |
Major General Randal Thomas, the 36th Adjutant General of the State of Illinois, recently visited Warsaw and Krakow to participate in political-military meetings. While in Warsaw, General Thomas attended the U.S.-Polish Strategic Dialogue meetings. He also met with Lieutenant General Edward Pietrzyk, Commander, Polish Land Forces, and Lieutenant General Lech Majewski, Deputy Commander, Polish Air Force. Discussions touched on numerous areas of cooperation – including preparations by Illinois National Guard soldiers of Polish contingents destined for Iraq; the deployment of six F-16 fighters belonging to the Illinois Air National Guard to Krzesiny Air Base; preparations of Polish Air Force units for receipt of Poland’s own F-16C/D multi-role fighters; and cooperation between Illinois Guardsmen and Polish soldiers in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As the Adjutant General of Illinois, General Thomas directs the Illinois Department of Military Affairs and is the senior officer in the Chain-of-Command for both the Illinois Army and Air National Guard. He is responsible for the daily operations of the Illinois National Guard and oversees its 13,500 men and women in uniform as well as 300 civilian employees. He also coordinates with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to ensure timely response to state emergency situations. Two of General Thomas’s servicemen – Lieutenant Colonel Chris Charveron, and Chief Master Sergeant Tom Hergenrother – are currently assigned to the Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Embassy, Warsaw.
As an avid historian, Special Forces soldier, winner of the “Purple Heart” in Vietnam, and implementer of the “State Partnership Program” between the State of Illinois and the Republic of Poland, General Thomas has taken a particular interest in 20th-century Polish history. General Thomas considers himself a close friend of Poland and the Polish people. Among his most memorable moments in Poland have been laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, visiting historical sites in Krakow, and touring the Warsaw Uprising Museum.
• Major General Randal Thomas's Biography
back to top ^
This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement
of the views or privacy policies contained therein.
|
 |
|
 |
