Assistant Director Sergio Estrada, Jr.

Sergeant Major (Ret) Sergio Estrada Jr. was appointed Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs on August 22, 2007.

A Chicago native and current resident of southwest suburban Shorewood, Mr. Estrada Jr. brings years of service and crucial one-on-one experience with service members and Veterans to his new post as Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Director.

Mr. Estrada Jr. transfers to Assistant Director from his former position as Northern Division Supervisor for the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. Since January of 2006, Mr. Estrada Jr. has managed and directly supervised 33 of the states Veteran Service Officers in 27 offices throughout Northern Illinois as the Northern Division Supervisor. Among his duties were to enhance community outreach, speak to groups and organizations on behalf of the Department about the services available to veterans, coordinate open-houses for new field offices, and to provide administrative services to the Veteran Service Officers serving Illinois Veterans.

Enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in January of 1979, Mr. Estrada Jr. served in a number of locations and various positions throughout his 27 years of service including: Machine Gunner Team Leader, Section Leader, Drill Instructor with Medical Rehabilitation Platoon and Physical Conditioning Platoon, Company Gunnery Sergeant and Operation Chief. He also served as the Squadron Sergeant Major aboard the USS Roosevelt in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2003, Mr. Estrada Jr. served in Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning from overseas, Mr. Estrada Jr. reported for duty with the Inspector-Instructor Staff, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines in Chicago. He retired from the United States Marine Corps in 2005, completing 27 years of active duty.

As a United States Marine, Mr. Estrada Jr. received the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award, Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award, and a Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award.

Mr. Estrada Jr. is bilingual, married, has two children, and enjoys spending time with his family, attending church, and exercising.