HR0417 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0417 LRB102 19446 MST 28213 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Devin R. Pepper on being confirmed by the United States Senate as Brigadier General in the United States Space Force, the sixth and newest uniformed service of the U.S. Armed Forces, on March 22, 2021; and

WHEREAS, General Pepper was officially promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on June 7, 2021, making him the first African American General Officer in the United States Space Force; and

WHEREAS, General Pepper became the first "Mustang" (prior-enlisted) General Officer in the United States Space Force, having served seven years enlisted in the Air Force; and

WHEREAS, General Pepper currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate, United States Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; and

WHEREAS, General Pepper, prior to becoming a Brigadier General in the United States Space Force, was the Commander of the Buckley Garrison, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, overseeing four domestic bases and stations and 10 international installations; and

WHEREAS, General Pepper also served as the Commander of the 460th Space Wing at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, where he commanded Air Force Space Command's largest operations group with 23 operations in nine countries; and

WHEREAS, General Pepper has served in various assignments across the United States and internationally during his 32-year career in the Air Force; domestically, he served at the Pentagon, Maxwell Air Force Base (LA), Vandenberg Air Force Base (CA), Minot Air Force Base (ND), Barksdale Air Force Base (LA), Offutt Air Force Base (NE), and Peterson Air Force Base (CO); internationally, he served in South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Fallujah, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, General Pepper has received numerous awards and decorations, including the Air Force Commander's Medal, the Iraq Campaign Bronze Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Award, the Air Force Space Command Crewmember Excellence Award, and the United States Air Force Verne Orr Award; and

WHEREAS, General Pepper has received a number of degrees and certifications, including a Bachelor of Science from University of Maryland, a Master of Arts from George Washington University, and a Master of Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; he attended the National War College in Washington D.C.; and

WHEREAS, General Pepper, along with his twin brother Donovan Pepper, is a 1987 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his career and accomplishments, General Pepper has enjoyed the loving support of his wife of 15 years, Alicia, and his children, Madilyn and Lukas; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Devin R. Pepper on being confirmed by the United States Senate as Brigadier General in the United States Space Force, and we wish him many successful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to General Pepper as a symbol of our respect and esteem.