05/28/2026
Congratulations to Illinois Army National Guard Major Karen Hernandez who received the Major General John A. Logan Patriot Award during Chicago's Memorial Day on May 23. Hernandez is the Executive Director of Chicago Veterans and a Medical Services Officer in the Illinois Army National Guard. A respected advocate for veterans, women in leadership and minority representation, Hernandez has dedicated her career to empowering veterans through community engagement, mentorship, employment resources and advocacy. Since enlisting in 2008 and commissioning as an Illinois Army National Guard officer in 2011, she has held key leadership roles supporting humanitarian missions, strategic operations and military medical initiatives both domestically and abroad.
Throughout her military and civic career, Hernandez has demonstrated a deep commitment to service and leadership development. She served as Deputy Commander for the Illinois National Guard COVID Task Force Testing mission in 2020 and later deployed as a Field Hospital Commander overseeing medical support operations across Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where her unit, the 709th Medical Company Area Support, earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation for exceptional service. Beyond her military accomplishments, Hernandez has volunteered extensively with veteran and civic organizations throughout Illinois, served on numerous advisory councils and mentorship initiatives, and remained active in her community through youth coaching and volunteer teaching. Guided by the values of integrity, compassion and selfless service, she continues to advocate for veterans while helping shape the next generation of leaders.
