Hoekman enlisted into the SDARNG in December 1985 with the 200th Engineer Company as a combat engineer/bridge specialist and attended basic and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He obtained secondary occupational specialties as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with the 200th and went on to serve as motor transport operator with the 1742nd Transportation Company in 1994.

He has served in nearly every key noncommissioned officer position from squad leader to command sergeant major.

In January 2006, he was selected as the first sergeant for the 727th Transportation Company until the unit’s deactivation in September 2007. He went on to serve as the first sergeant for the 740th Transportation Company. In April 2009, he was selected as the command sergeant major for the 139th Brigade Support Battalion, followed by the 109th Regional Support Group in April 2012.

Hoekman’s deployments include service with the 1742nd Transportation Company during Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to June 2004 and the 139th Brigade Support Battalion during Operation New Dawn in Iraq and Kuwait from June 2011 to April 2012.

Hoekman is a graduate of the United States Sergeants Major Academy, holds a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University in sociology and criminal justice and is a graduate of the South Dakota Law Enforcement Academy.

In his civilian life, Hoekman serves as a captain at the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office in Sioux Falls and has served in law enforcement for 24 years.

DECORATIONS, AWARDS AND CITATIONS:
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Iraq Compaign Medal with three stars
Combat Action Badge