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.
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