Richard J. Hayes Jr. is a retired U.S. Army National Guard officer, who served as the Adjutant General of Illinois.

Upon release from Active Duty Hayes joined the Kansas Army National Guard's First Battalion, 127th Field Artillery Regiment.

Lieutenant Hayes then transferred to the Illinois Army National Guard's Second Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment, two years later.

Three years later, Hayes became commander of the 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment, based in Chicago, Illinois, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

[1] After leading a reinforced Task Force 122 in October 2005, the state's contribution to the relief efforts in New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita,[2] Hayes became Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 Operations, for the 35th Infantry Division, based in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, two months later.