Gilland grew up in rural Rock Island County, attended Sherrard High School, and graduated from West Point in 1990.
He says the new job is a combination of university president and commander of a military installation.
"That program focuses on academic, miltary, and physical programs but it's really anchored in character. And if you look at our mission statement - we educate, train, and inspire and then we also deliver leaders of character for our Army."
In high school, Gilland says he never really considered a career in the military - a school counselor suggested he apply to West Point, and it was a way to pay for college he could not have afforded otherwise.
Just like the Army, he says academy has cadets from all 50 states.
"Which is what makes our Army awesome is that you have people from all over who come together to achieve a common objective or to execute common missions."
His recent assignments include Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, and Deputy Commanding General of the 3rd Armored Corps at Fort Hood, Texas.
And unlike many other command positions in the Army, West Point superintendents usually serve from three to five years.
