Eastridge advances to U.S. Army South

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Army National Guard's Brig. Gen. Michael Eastridge has been selected as the next Deputy Commanding General for U.S. Army South.
Eastridge started as U.S. Army South's Deputy Commanding General on June 16. He is simultaneously serving as the Illinois Army National Guard's Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, a position he has held since February 2024.
As U.S. Army South's Deputy Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Eastridge will assist the Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Philip Ryan, as U.S. Army South protects the United States by providing responsive, adaptive, agile and flexible land forces able to rapidly respond to contingencies in the Western Hemisphere. The command also builds regional capability by working with partner nations and other stakeholders to enhance security and defend the U.S. homeland.
'U.S. Army South plays a vital role in the defense of the Western Hemisphere. I look forward to joining the U.S. Army South team while also fulfilling my duties and responsibilities within the Illinois Army National Guard,' Eastridge said. 'I'm excited to be part of the team that implements changes to make us a more dynamic and lethal fighting force both in U.S. Army South and in the Illinois Army National Guard.
'Brigadier General Eastridge is a traditional National Guard officer who, in addition to more than 35 years of military service, has also served as an executive in the finance and automotive industries,' said Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard. 'Mike's civilian management experience will help in his new role at U.S. Army South as it has helped the Illinois National Guard for decades. This speaks to the added value the Citizen-Soldier brings to our national defense.'
As the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General of the Illinois Army National Guard, Eastridge serves as the advisor to Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General – Army of the Illinois National Guard. Eastridge advises Williams in all matters pertaining to supervision and management of Illinois Army National Guard, which consists of 10,000 Citizen-Soldiers.
Eastridge began his service in 1988 and achieved the rank of staff sergeant prior to receiving his commission in 2000 through the Illinois Military Academy Officer Candidate School where he was the distinguished honor graduate. His notable assignments include a mobilization to Germany in 2002 with Task Force Santa Fe as a Platoon Leader for Company A, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment conducting force protection operations.
In 2004, Eastridge mobilized to Fort Polk, LA with the 1st Battalion, 131st Infantry Regiment as the Opposing Force Military Intelligence Officer. In 2005, he commanded Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment followed by a second command in 2007 for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment.
Eastridge then mobilized a third time and deployed in 2008 to Afghanistan as a team chief for an Afghan Border Police Embedded Training Team. While deployed, he assumed command of the 333rd Military Police Company conducting decisive action operations.
After serving in multiple key and developmental staff positions, Eastridge commanded the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment from 2015 to 2017 and then commanded the 33d Infantry Brigade Combat Team with the responsibility for preparing the brigade for future decisive action operations supporting federal missions and domestic operations supporting state missions.
Eastridge's professional military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captains Career Course, Combined Arms Exercise Course, Intermediate Level Education course, the Advanced Operations Course and he is a 2019 graduate of the United States Army War College with a master's degree in strategic studies.
His notable military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge and Air Assault Badge.
As a traditional guardsman, Eastridge has more than 20 years with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and is the MBFS Marketing and Sales Support Manager for the United States.
Eastridge grew up in Wheaton. Having raised three children; Tim, Rachel and Megan into adulthood, he now resides in Plymouth, Michigan, with his spouse, Mary, and her two sons, Gavin and Karter.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

18 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Trump Pledges 'Future Attacks' On Iran If No Quick Peace; Nuke Sites Bombings Were 'Spectacular Military Success,' POTUS Says

Two days after Donald Trump said he was going to give any decision on US involvement in Israel's war with Iran a couple more weeks, the president offered details on the bombing Saturday of three nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic and the potential of more to come. 'Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror,' Trump said from the White House tonight in a short speech covered live around the globe. More from Deadline U.S. Bombs Three Nuclear Sites In Iran, Donald Trump Announces Inside Gavin Newsom & Alex Padilla's Media Blitz Of Trump & JD Vance: "Is He Confused Again?" Governor Mocks POTUS JD Vance Says Federal Presence Still Needed In Los Angeles, Accuses Gavin Newsom And Karen Bass Of "Encouraging Far-Left Agitators" - Update 'Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,' he went on to say. 'If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.' Noticeably not speaking from the Oval Office, Trump was surrounded by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Praising the military, Trump said tonight that Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine would be giving a press conference early Sunday at 8 a.m ET with more details of the trio of attacks. Beyond the obvious logic of the Pentagon being in pole position in a matter like this, the 40,000 US troops in and around the Middle East are widely seen as a possible target for any reaction from Iran going forward. Just before Trump's less than 10-minute speech tonight, Iranian State TV displayed a graphic at one point of those nearby U.S. bases with the text 'Within Range.' Trump made no mention of those troops or bases in his comments Saturday. Also before Trump was in front of the cameras, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave comments of his own, capped with 'Congratulations President Trump.' As Trump spoke, from the same place in the White House where Barack Obama stood in 2011 and revealed the successful killing of Osama Bin Laden, the administration released photos of a ball cap wearing POTUS and top officials in the Situation Room earlier Saturday. The group are seemingly watching video of military activity – also with Obama comparisons. President Donald J. Trump in The Situation Room, June 21, 2025 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 22, 2025 Declaring that 'Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,' Trump repeated his threat of more to come. 'There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,' he noted with a stumble or two in reference to the beginning of Israel's hits on foe Tehran. 'Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all, by far and perhaps the most lethal, but if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill, most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes. There is no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight, not even close.' Away at his New Jersey residence this weekend, poll besieged Trump made public the attack on the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan sites not long after returning to the White House this afternoon and participating in a meeting with his National Security team. 'Congratulations to our great American Warriors,' Trump posted online. 'There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.' Worries of what Iran's reaction will be in the region, to US bases and around the world became part of the TV and online coverage also as soon as news of the American bombing began. Also, concerns about secret Iranian facilities or unaccounted for nuclear material were part of the discussion in the absence of significant details of the American action in the hours before Trump's speech. With the world waiting for Trump's remarks from the White House, officials of the Islamic Republic appeared on Iranian state TV earlier Saturday. The official said that the regime 'didn't suffer a major blow' because 'the materials had already been taken out,' according to the BBC. In the last few days, Trump seemed to be shifting his position on Iran, At one point he was rushing back to DC from the awkward G7 meeting in Canada, but then having his press secretary kicking any decision down the line up to 'two weeks.' There were also reports of divisions with the top tiar of the administration over going into Iran with VP Vance and DCI Tulsi Gabbard allegedly cautioning against more conflict and another Middle East war for the USA. Today, Defense Sec. Hegseth's ex-employers at Fox News reported that B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles were used as well as half a dozen bunker busters dropped on the deep buried Fordow facility alone, officials from Tehran went on state TV to insist the sites were long since emptied. Additionally, those Iranian officials said 'the materials had already been taken out.' A comment many military pundits on US cable TV saw as nuclear materials and centrifuges are now on the move in Iran. Though America joining the Jewish State's more than weeklong bombardment of the Islamic Republic had split Trump's MAGA base with the likes of Tucker Carlson denouncing such a move, Senators such as John Fetterman (D-PA) and Lindsey Graham (R-NC) Saturday praised the US attack. Sen Tim Kaine (D-VA) had a very different response. 'Horrible judgment,' Kaine said online Saturday night. ' I will push for all Senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war,' the Senator concluded. With American military forces engaged now in the conflict, it is unknown if Trump will still be heading to Europe for the NATO summit next week. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg

Yahoo

19 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Shuffle Board: Kering, Tailored Brands, Pendleton Name CEOs

Omnichannel specialty retailer Tailored Brands announced John Tighe as chief executive officer and board member, effective Aug. 5. Tighe, who served most recently as president of the parent company to Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, succeeds Peter Sachse, who will transition to executive chairman next month. Tighe joined Tailored Brands in May 2021 as executive vice president and chief customer officer and became president in March 2022. He previously served as president of Peerless Clothing and held leadership positions at J.C. Penney, including chief merchant and executive vice president, as well. Portland-based brand Pendleton Woolen Mills has appointed Jennifer Ingraffea as CEO. She succeeds John Bishop as the first female to hold the top position at the 162-year-old company. Bishop, who retired in February, will remain as CEO through July to work with the former Nike exec before transitioning to chairman of the board. More from Sourcing Journal GXO Cleared to Acquire Wincanton, Taps DHL Vet as New CEO Shuffle Board: Vera Bradley CEO Exits, Lectra Names Deputy CEO Shuffle Board: Better Cotton Names Nonprofit Exec Nick Weatherill CEO Luxury conglomerate Kering's board of directors, chaired by François-Henri Pinault, approved the appointment of Luca de Meo as chief executive officer of the group, as recommended by the appointments and governance committee. As part of a renewed governance structure, the role of chairman of the board of directors, held by Pinault, will be separated from that of CEO. OTB Group-owned label Marni confirmed the exit of creative director Francesco Risso after a decade with the brand, according to a press statement. The statement did not say when a new creative director would be announced. The Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), a public-private partnership led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, announced that Dr. Eric Evans has been appointed as the new chair of the AFFOA board of directors. As chair, Evans will help lead the organization in its mission to accelerate the development and commercialization of textile technologies that integrate electronics and sensors, among other functionalities.

CBS News

20 minutes ago

• CBS News

Lawmakers respond to U.S. launching strikes on 3 Iranian nuclear facilities

Washington - Lawmakers across the political aisle offered a mixed response Saturday following President Trump's announcement that the United States launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Immediately following Mr. Trump's announcement, Congressional Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Ted Cruz, backed Mr. Trump after he announced in a Truth Social post that "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow." "There is not another military in the World that could have done this," Mr. Trump said in the post. "NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!Thank you for your attention to this matter." Here's what lawmakers are saying: Some Republican lawmakers back U.S. strikes in Iran "Good. This was the right call. The regime deserves it. Well done, President @realDonaldTrump," Sen. Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said on X. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a social media post that "the military operations in Iran should serve as a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says." "The President gave Iran's leader every opportunity to make a deal, but Iran refused to commit to a nuclear disarmament agreement," Johnson said in the post. "President Trump has been consistent and clear that a nuclear-armed Iran will not be tolerated. That posture has now been enforced with strength, precision, and clarity." Texas Sen. Cruz, who has backed of Israeli strikes against Iranian targets, said in a statement: "As long as Iran was able to access and conduct activities at Fordow, they could still rush to build a nuclear arsenal. Tonight's actions have gone far in foreclosing that possibility, and countering the apocalyptic threat posed by an Iranian nuclear arsenal." The strikes announced by Mr. Trump Saturday evening further escalated the conflict between Iran and Israel that started June 13. Mr. Trump, on Wednesday, was still mulling over whether the U.S. military would join Israel's ongoing attacks on Iran. Before the announcement of the strikes, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia split with Mr. Trump and said, "This is not our fight." "Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war," she said in a post on X. "There would not be bombs falling on the people of Israel if Netanyahu had not dropped bombs on the people of Iran first." Rep. Rick Crawford, Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee, praised Mr. Trump in a statement and said, "I have been in touch with the White House before this action and will continue to track developments closely with them in the coming days." Mr. Trump did receive pushback from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who called the strikes "not constitutional." Massie introduced a resolution on Tuesday to prohibit U.S. involvement in the conflict. Some Democrats say U.S. strikes in Iran are unconstitutional Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Saturday demanded that Congress be "fully and immediately" briefed on the attacks in a classified setting. "President Trump misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East," Jeffries said. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Mr. Trump's decision to bomb Iran without Congressional authorization "is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers." "He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations," the New York Democrat wrote. "It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been looking to limit Mr. Trump's ability to order U.S. strikes on Iran amid its ongoing war with Israel, emphasizing that only Congress has the power to declare war under the Constitution. The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war, and the extent of the president's authority to wade into conflict abroad without the approval of the legislative branch has been challenged in recent years. "Dear colleagues: Don't make another mistake in dragging our country into another war," Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan said in a post. "You can stop the President and the war mongers in Congress by signing on to our War Powers Resolution." Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts called on Congress to return to Washington, D.C., to vote on Massie's legislation "to stop this madness." In contrast to other Congressional Democrats, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said he fully supports the U.S. strikes on Iran. "As I've long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS," Fetterman said in a social media post. "Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities. I'm grateful for and salute the finest military in the world." Sen. Bernie Sanders, who's on a tour this weekend in red Southern states, announced the news of the U.S. attacks on Iran to his supporters and was met the chants of "no more war" from the crowd. "It is so grossly unconstitutional," Sanders said. "All of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the U.S. Congress. The president does not have the right." and contributed to this report.