Past success for Illinois:
• A graduate in top one percent of his class at West Point, Monken was assigned to the head recruiting officer for Northern Illinois Officer Strength Management team, the highest ranked of such teams in the nation.

Experience:
• Recruiter, Officer Strength Management, Illinois Army National Guard (July 2007 – Present)
• Mortgage Banker, Chicago Bancorp (July 2007 – August 2008)
• United States Army
o Captain, Multi-National Corps – Iraq Civil-Military Relation, Baghdad, Iraq (December 2005 – December 2006)
o 1st Lieutenant, Support Platoon Leader, Ba’quba, Iraq (July 2004 – March 2005)
o 1st Lieutenant, Tank Platoon Leader, Ba’quba, Iraq (January 2004 – July 2004)
o 2nd Lieutenant, Tank Platoon Leader & Community Liaison Administrator, Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo (January 2003 – July 2003)

Leadership positions:
• Company Commander – Responsible for leadership, training, and welfare of 120 cadets
• Battalion Command Sergeant major – cadet sergeant in charge of 500 cadets
• Regimental Executive Officer, CFT – 2nd in command of 1,200 cadets for advanced field training

Awards:
• Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device for valor
• 2005 American Red Cross Illinois “Hometown Hero” Award Winner for Fox Valley

Education:
• United States Military Academy at West Point, Bachelor of Science in Military History (June 2002)
• Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, Masters in Business Administration (June 2008-present)

Personal Information:
• Age: 29
• Wife: Jennifer Monken
• Hometown: St. Charles, IL