Meghan Erin Meade

Meghan Erin Meade | Legislator Al Krupski’s Honoree | Branch of Service: Air Force

Meghan Erin Meade was a Technical Sergeant in the Air National Guard. She has been working for the Suffolk County Department of Social Services since April 2011 and is currently in the Medicaid Eligibility Unit as an Examiner I.

She joined the Air National Guard in March 2002 while in her senior year of high school and enlisted to become Security Forces. After graduation, she went to Lackland AFB in Texas for basic training and from there went to Security Forces Technical School. Upon completion of both trainings, she was awarded an Air Force Training Ribbon and National Defense Service Medal. She returned to the 106th Rescue Squadron in Westhampton and was assigned to work as Security Forces alongside the U.S. Army in upstate New York. After three months, Meade was awarded the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Rifle, National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. She continued to work with the 106th in support of Operation Noble Eagle IAW 10 from February 2003 to April 2004 as Security Forces, as well as Honor Guard serving alongside the Army to honor Army Air Core veterans as they passed.

Meade was deployed in 2006 to Northern Iraq (Kirkurk) under Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2015 to 2016 to Ali al Salem, Kuwait under Operation Enduring Freedom, 2018 to    Al Asad AB Iraq under Operation Inherent Resolve, and 2019 to 2020 to Kismayo, Somalia under Operation Freedom Sentinel.

From 2004 to 2006, Meade was recognized with the following awards and medals: the Air Reserve Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. From 2015 to 2016 she was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Unit Award, AF Outstanding Unit Award with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, AF Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 “M” device.

After serving in Security Forces, Meade changed her AFSC to Air Transportation. Her first deployment as an Air Transportation Craftsman was April 2018. During this tour, Meade was awarded the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, AF Longevity Service and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 “M” devices with 1 Hourglass Device and the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal.

In addition to deployments, Meade was part of a rescue squadron where she was activated during hurricanes and natural disasters. She was to report for duty where security forces are required as an increased posture to aid with traffic, patrols or load aircraft with equipment and personnel to devastated areas in times of need. Under the GI Bill, she attended Suffolk County Community College and then Stony Brook University, where she has one more semester to complete a degree in nursing.