Maurice Bridges
Jr. Vice State Commander -
Served honorably in the United States Air Force from January 1973
to November 1978 as an aircraft mechanic specialist.
Served honorably in the Illinois National Guard, 126th Air Refueling
Wing, from February 1979 to January 2006 as an aircraft mechanic
specialist for a combined 32 years and 11 months.
As a Desert Storm Veteran, I earned the Southwest Asia Service
Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. I
have also been awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with
one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; the Air Force Achievement Medal with
2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious
Service Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters and one Silver Oak
Leaf Cluster; and the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal.
I have filled all leadership positions at the Post level multiple times
– including Post Quartermaster and the full accession from Junior
Vice Commander to Commander, where I earned All-State Post
Commander status.
I achieved All-State and All American status as the District 14
Commander in 2018-2019. Other VFW positions I have been
appointed to include: Department of Illinois Chief of Staff, National
Aide-de-Camp in 2016 and 2017, member of the Committee on
National Security and Foreign Affairs in 2018, and most recently a
member of the Committee on National Bylaws, Manual of
Procedures and Ritual in 2021.
