Assistant Director Rodrigo Garcia
Rodrigo Garcia was appointed Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs by Governor Pat Quinn on October 11, 2011.
An Illinois native and Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Garcia brings years of service and crucial one-on-one experience with service members and veterans to his new executive post as Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Director. Mr. Garcia has served the veteran community in various leadership roles and capacities including authoring, co-authoring or contributing to several resource manuals and publications, spearheading new organizational programs and enabling numerous veteran networks.
Mr. Garcia served overseas on three separate occasions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and earned multiple decorations including the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Gold Star in lieu of second award.
Mr. Garcia earned a degree in finance from Northeastern Illinois University with the top student honors from the College of Business. In addition, Mr. Garcia graduated summa cum laude with a master’s degree in finance and management from the University of Illinois. Mr. Garcia has been previously employed by Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Mr. Garcia has been involved in many Illinois veteran organizations such as the Student Veterans of America, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, AM Vets, Marine for Life, the State of Illinois Veterans Advisory Council and the City of Chicago’s OEF/OIF Memorial Committee. As a result, Mr. Garcia remains a pillar of the veteran and the Latino community.
Mr. Garcia has been recognized by various organizations for triumph in community leadership, academic research, and scholastic achievement including the Adelante! Leadership Fund, Alpha Chi, Beta Gamma Sigma, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Miller Coors & Partner’s Latino Lideres, the National Society of Hispanic MBA's, Northeastern Illinois University, the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, the State of Illinois, Student Veterans of America, and the University of Illinois.
Mr. Garcia enjoys spending time with his family and his friends, playing softball and going to the movies, and most importantly, being a community advocate.