Chestnut Colonel Retires after 32 Years of Service

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/25/2016)(readMedia)-- Family, friends and colleagues gathered at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, for a retirement ceremony to celebrate the 32-year career of Col. Paul Fanning of Chestnut, Illinois.

Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, Jr. of Springfield, Illinois, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, presided over Fanning's retirement ceremony. Fanning was presented multiple awards by Hayes, including a bronze eagle statue, the Legion of Merit Medal and the Illinois Distinguished Service Medal.

Fanning has had a multitude of assignments over his 32-year career including company and battalion command; multiple director positions including information management, joint training and doctrine and personnel; culminating with a position as the regimental commander of the 129th Regional Training Institute where he led the 129th to its triennial accreditation and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine's Installation of Excellence award across all of its training programs.

"Paul was always leading change," said Hayes. "He's had impact at every level. You want people to challenge the way things are going today, you want that change to make yourself better, and that's Paul to a 'T'."

Fanning told those in attendance that all of the success in his career was all due to the people around him.

"I've had a lot of success in my career, but I didn't do it alone," said Fanning. "I surrounded myself with like-minded, smart people and because of those people we were able to affect great change and accomplish great things. If there's one piece of advice that I can offer the leaders in this room, it would be: Take care of your Soldiers and they'll take care of you. It's about them, your Soldiers will drive your success."

Cutline 1: Col. Paul Fanning of Chestnut, Illinois, stands with Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, Jr. of Springfield, Illinois, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, after being presented with the Legion of Merit Medal during his retirement ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Sept. 23. Fanning's 32-year career included multiple assignments at company and battalion command; multiple director positions including information management, joint training and doctrine and personnel; culminating with a position as the regimental commander of the 129th Regional Training Institute where he led the 129th to its triennial accreditation and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine's Installation of Excellence award across all of its training programs. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Cutline 2: Col. Paul Fanning of Chestnut, Illinois, stands with Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, Jr. of Springfield, Illinois, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, after being presented with his discharge certificate during his retirement ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Sept. 23. Fanning's 32-year career included multiple assignments at company and battalion command; multiple director positions including information management, joint training and doctrine and personnel; culminating with a position as the regimental commander of the 129th Regional Training Institute where he led the 129th to its triennial accreditation and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine's Installation of Excellence award across all of its training programs. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Cutline 3: Col. Paul Fanning of Chestnut, Illinois, addresses family, friends and colleagues during his retirement ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Sept. 23. Fanning's 32-year career included multiple assignments at company and battalion command; multiple director positions including information management, joint training and doctrine and personnel; culminating with a position as the regimental commander of the 129th Regional Training Institute where he led the 129th to its triennial accreditation and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine's Installation of Excellence award across all of its training programs. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)