Dina Vardal is a retired law enforcement officer, Army National Guard veteran, and proud mother whose life has been marked by discipline, service, and devotion to family. Raised in Joliet, Illinois, she grew up immersed in the cultural traditions of her Greek and Italian heritage. These influences shaped her values of resilience, compassion, and hard work, which carried her through long careers in both law enforcement and the military, as well as her personal life. Her parents, Denis and Danira, built their life in Joliet after immigrating from Europe. They owned and operated Mykonos Gyros, a popular restaurant that became a gathering place for the community, and Denis also founded Vardal Engineering in 1958, which remains family-operated today. Growing up in this atmosphere, Dina learned the importance of perseverance, community ties, and carrying on traditions that connect people to their roots. At seventeen, Dina began her journey of service by joining the Army National Guard. At the same time, she pursued higher education, completing an Associate’s in Law Enforcement at Joliet Junior College in 1990 and a Bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University in 1992, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Years later, while balancing career and family, she earned a Master’s in Organizational Development at Benedictine University, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to learning. Her law enforcement career spanned more than two decades, during which she became a certified SWAT officer, firearms instructor, and mentor to recruits. In parallel, she served twenty-two years in the Army National Guard as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief, working on Blackhawks, Chinooks, and other aircraft. She took on leadership roles as a fitness coordinator and organized morale-building events, while serving tours in Panama and Germany that expanded her understanding of different cultures. After retiring, Dina Vardal continued to serve through education and volunteer work. She worked as a substitute teacher and gave her time to organizations like Meals on Wheels, food banks, animal shelters, and her church. She enjoys traveling to Greece, gardening, scuba diving, and cooking traditional meals. In 2022, she married Noe DeLeon Jr., and above all, she treasures her role as mother to her daughter, Danira, who remains the greatest joy in her life.