Executive Staff EXECUTIVE STAFF Director Tammy Duckworth Committed to Serving Country and Community L. Tammy Duckworth was appointed Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs by Governor Blagojevich on November 21, 2006. Director Duckworth brings considerable managerial experience to the department. She was the Manager for the Club and District Administration Department for Rotary International’s Asia-Pacific Region from 2002 to 2004, with direct supervision over employees in five regional offices in Japan, New Delhi, Sydney, Seoul and Chicago, providing administrative services to the organization’s tens of thousands of members. From 1991 to 2001, Director Duckworth coordinated the Center for Nursing Research at Northern Illinois University, conducting research, assisting faculty research projects and writing grants for funding opportunities, presenting research project results at national conferences, and serving as the School of Nursing’s liaison to the media, local governments, and citizens. She is a published author with textbook chapters and articles on the effects of Environmental Radon and Lung Cancer. As a member of the military, Director Duckworth is currently a Major with the Illinois National Guard. Previously she was a logistics officer with the National Guard in Peoria, managing all logistical operations and maintenance for over $1.7 billion in equipment. Director Duckworth also served as Commander of a 15-ship, UH-60A Blackhawk Helicopter Company, supervising the training for 60 aircrew members and overseeing maintenance for over $50 million in equipment. As Battle Captain and Assistant Operations Officer, she helped with planning, assigning and tracking combat missions of a 500-soldier aviation taskforce in Iraq, and flew over 200 combat hours as a Blackhawk pilot. It was during a mission in November 2004 that a rocket-propelled grenade struck the cockpit of her helicopter and exploded. Director Duckworth suffered grave injuries, losing both legs. Since coming home from Iraq, Director Duckworth has remained active in the public arena, regularly speaking to veterans’ groups, testifying before Congress on issues of medical care for returning veterans and running for a U.S. Congressional seat. As a soldier, Director Duckworth received the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medical, and the National Defense Service Medal, along with other decorations, citations and badges. Director Duckworth, who speaks four languages, has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Hawaii; an M.A. from the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and is currently working on a Ph. D. in Political Science from Northern Illinois University. Director Duckworth was born in Thailand and grew up in several countries in Southeast Asia. Her father Franklin Duckworth fought as a U.S. Marine in World War II and Vietnam and her mother, Lamai, was a native of Thailand. She has one brother named Tom. Director Duckworth and her husband Bryan Bowlsbey currently reside in Hoffman Estates.