LANSING, MICH. - Highland Park resident Lt. Col. Rodney Williams was selected as the Director of the Michigan National Guard Human Resource Office (HRO). Williams will begin his assignment on Oct. 5.

Williams began his military career in 1984 in Columbus, Ohio and joined the Michigan National Guard in 1988 with the 163rd Personnel Service Company. He served as a labor relations specialist and the State Equal Employment Manager within the Michigan National Guard HRO.

Williams' most recent assignment was as the commander of the 127th Wing Mission Support Group at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. He led approximately 800 military and civilian employees who conduct security, engineering, logistics, personnel services, contracting and communications.

Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of Alabama in 1983. He earned a Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1991, completed Judge Advocate Staff Officer courses for both the Army and the Air Force in 1993 and 1998 respectively. He earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan in 1999 and a Master of Law in Labor Law from Wayne State University in 2001. He was a Senior Executive Fellow with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and earned a Strategy and Innovation Certificate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Williams completed Air War College in 2007.

He is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among others.

Williams is married to Lisa Williams. They have three children: Langston, Danielle, and Lauryn.

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