New strategic planning supervisor is promoted to colonel

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/11/2014)(readMedia)-- SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Natalie Northern of Springfield, Illinois, was promoted to colonel by Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei, the Illinois National Guard Adjutant General, at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, July 11.

Her new assignment is with Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield, Illinois, as the J-5, supervising strategic planning for the Illinois National Guard.

Northern received her commission in 1988. Throughout her career she has held multiple positions from platoon leader, executive officer, company commander, personnel officer, support services officer, battalion commander, director and operations division chief.

She deployed in 2003 through 2005 to Tikrit, Iraq, as the support operations officer for 232nd Corp Service Support Battalion, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Northern deployed again in 2012 as director of the 633rd Theater Gateway to Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). During this assignment she was responsible for more than 150 Soldiers and Airmen from 13 multi-component units for all U.S. Armed Forces, Department of Defense civilians, contractors and select coalition forces deploying and redeploying from OEF. She also ensured more than 85,000 military and civilian personnel moved throughout the theater of operations and supervised the Joint Military Command Center in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, which processed more than 111,000 deployers and 124,000 redeployers.

Northern graduated in 2009 from the United States Army War College, in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. She is branch qualified in strategic planning, logistics, ordinance, and the adjutant general corps.

Northern graduated with a double master's degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield in Springfield, Illinois and received her undergraduate degree from Quincy University and John Wood Community College, in Quincy, Illinois.

She is the daughter of Brig. Gen. (ret.) Richard E. (Hap) Northern of Quincy, Illinois, who is state director of the Illinois Selective Service System.

(Center) Col. Natalie Northern of Springfield, Illinois, stands with Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei (left), the Illinois National Guard Adjutant General and her father Brig. Gen. (ret.) Richard E. (Hap) Northern of Quincy, Illinois, during her promotion ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois July 11. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Aleah M. Castrejon, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office)

Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei , the Illinois National Guard Adjutant General promotes Natalie Northern of Springfield, Illinois, to colonel during a promotion ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois on July 11, 2014. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Aleah M. Castrejon, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office)