Illinois Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Mark Jackson of Frankfort, Illinois, has been selected as the Deputy Commanding General of Operations for First Army and will be promoted to Major General. “As First Army’s Deputy Commander, Mark Jackson will greatly influence how National Guard and Reserve Soldiers are trained for deployment,” said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard. “He is a strategic leader and combat veteran who truly cares for those who serve under him. I cannot think of a better officer to help prepare Soldiers for combat.” As deputy commander, Jackson will serve directly under First Army Commander Lt. Gen. Thomas S. James. Jackson’s new position and promotion means that after 37 years he will no longer drill with the Illinois National Guard where he was the Director of the Joint Staff since March 2020 and, since July 2020, dual-hatted as the Deputy Commanding General at U.S. Army Southern European Task Force – Africa.