(From left) Rep. Andrew Chesney, Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller, LCDR Barry E. Boettcher, and Sen. Brian Stewart at Freeport High School | Facebook / Sen. Brian Stewart
(From left) Rep. Andrew Chesney, Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller, LCDR Barry E. Boettcher, and Sen. Brian Stewart at Freeport High School | Facebook / Sen. Brian Stewart
State Sen. Brian W. Stewart (R-Freeport) recently took to Facebook to honor Lieutenant Commander Barry E. Boettcher.
Stewart said in the May 12 Facebook post that he attended the Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony for Boettcher, a Navy veteran who led the nationally recognized Freeport High School Navy JROTC Program he started in 2002 for two decades. The post also noted that Boettcher had served 20 years of active duty.
“His commitment, visionary leadership and guidance to the program was absolutely superior and along with Marine Sergeant Major Dechy insured the success of all the cadets and future leaders of our country,” Stewart wrote. “It was an honor to congratulate and thank him for over 40 years of patriotic service to the United States, the State of Illinois and the Citizens of the 45th Senate District.”
Under Boettcher’s leadership, the Freeport High NJROTC CyberPatriot team excelled at a 2018 cybersecurity state championship competition hosted by the Air Force Association, according to the Journal Standard.
The publication noted in a 2015 article that the school’s program received an “Outstanding” rank in the 13th annual pass-in-review.
At that time, Boettcher told the publication that 10% to 15% of the members in each JROTC class go on to serve in a branch of the military.
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