The Alaska World Affairs Council Presents

JPanel of Alaska Service Personnel who have served in Afghanistana
 

“Operation Enduring Freedom:  Four Alaskan servicemen who have served in Afghanistan will share their insights on their overseas duty”

Friday, 3rd April 2009 – Hilton Hotel
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. - Program begins at 12:00 p.m.
For Reservations
RSVP by Wednesday, 1st April to the Alaska World Affairs Council
by telephone 276-8038 or by email to AlaskaWorldAffairs.org .
Lunch Program $20 for Members - $25 for Non-Members - $6 for Coffee Only

COL Daly enlisted into the Army at age 17 in 1974.  He served as an Infantry Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany and later the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT).  In 1982, COL Daly was commissioned as an Infantry Officer and was assigned again to Germany with the 1st Armored Division as a Mechanized Infantry Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Company Commander.  In 1986, COL Daly was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Washington as a SCUBA and later Military Freefall Team Leader with deployments to the Philippine Islands.  From 1989 to 1992, COL Daly was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion and participated in Operation JUST CAUSE, Panama.  In 1993, COL Daly was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment as Deputy Operations Officer and later as 3rd Ranger Battalion Executive Officer and Deputy Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment.  From 1996 to 1999, COL Daly served as the Joint Special Operations Observer/Trainer for US Atlantic Command.  Following Battalion Command from 1999-2001 with the 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, at Fort Benning, Georgia, he attended the US Air War College at Maxwell, AFB and was assigned to the Army Operations Center, the Pentagon.  He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003-2004 as the Director of Operations for CJTF-180 and later Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan.  He returned as the Director of the US CENTCOM Office in Washington, DC.  COL Daly commanded the 187th Infantry Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from July 2005 until May 2007.  He was then assigned back to Afghanistan as the Commander of ARSIC-North, Task Force Phoenix until July 2008. COL Daly is currently serving as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Alaska.  His son Joshua, attends the Virginia Military Institute and his daughter Eva, attends the United States Coast Guard Academy.  He is married to Dawn M. Daly, a retired U.S. Army Major.

2ND LT. JOHN M. ROMSPERT
Combat Rescue Officer, 212th Rescue Squadron

2nd Lt. John Romspert is a combat rescue officer of the 212th Rescue Squadron, Kulis Air National Guard Base, Anchorage, Alaska. He is responsible for the logistics and combat readiness of a Guardian Angel (GA) rescue squadron (RQS) consisting of Pararescuemen; Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialists; Combat Rescue Officers (CRO) and Combat Support personnel. He leads and directs over 30 personnel to accomplish continuous rescue alert for the State of Alaska and to provide rescue alert from a detachment located at Eielson AFB, Alaska.  The 212th Rescue Squadron is arguably the most active GA rescue squadron in the Air Force, routinely executing an annual average of 60 rescue missions, while fully participating in the nation’s Global War on Terrorism.

2nd Lt. Romspert initially enlisted in the US Air Force in 1994 as a Pararescue specialists.  In 2007 he received his commission from the Academy of Military Science and returned to the 212th Rescue Squadron.  His eight months as an officer were spent in the 176 Wing Plans and Exercises.  In March 2008 he was selected to be the assistant Team Commander of a 14 personnel Guardian Angel element at Bagram AB, Afghanistan.  During this period his mission set consisted of maintaining a 24 hour CFACC alert posture, Medical Evacuation, Other Coalition Force support, and Reintegration of isolated persons. Over his deployment he was tasked to fly over 22 missions resulting in 16 lives saved.

2nd Lt. Romspert deployed to Afghanistan in March 2008.  He was assigned to the 210th  ERQS in support of OEF.  He provided 24 hour coverage for all CFACC assets.  A secondary mission was to provide medical evacuation during periods of low level lunar illumination.  He and his team repeatedly flew in low light conditions saving over 40 lives during his tour.  He was also tasked several times to participate in the reintegration of isolated personnel from denied territories in and around North Eastern Afghanistan.  Lastly, 2nd Lt Romspert was a liaison between the Special Forces Group located in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.  The working relationship he established allowed Guardian Angel assets to forward deploy and work in the joint environment.  This provided a broader spectrum of Personnel Recovery

Sergeant Major Patrick Meegan
Alaska Army National Guard

Sergeant Major Patrick F. Meegan was born in Quincy, Massachusetts on December 3, 1959. He attended Scituate High School (Scituate, Massachusetts) and graduated in 1978. After high school, he joined the Army as an Airborne Infantryman assigned to Recon Platoon in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1979-1983. In 1983, SGM Meegan left active duty and was assigned as a team leader and squad leader in the 1-187th Infantry Brigade in Brockton, Massachusetts from 1983-1986. From 1986-1989, SGM Meegan transferred to the Massachusetts Army National Guard and served in the positions of Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant. From 1989-1991, SGM Meegan was selected over many Non-Commissioned Officers to implement the Reconnaissance and Surveillance (R&S) section for the Army Counter Narcotics Program. He was assigned to JTF-6 and the Joint Counter Narcotics Task Force (JCNTF).

From 1991-1995 SGM Meegan was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and served as Squad Leader and Operations Sergeant. He participated in an exchange program with the British Airborne, 3rd Parachute Regiment in Aldershot, England. From 1995-1998, SGM Meegan was assigned to the 1-501 (ABN) Infantry Regiment and the United States Army Alaska NCO Academy. From 1998-2001, SGM Meegan was assigned as a Recon Platoon Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant of the United Nations Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area in Panmunjom, Korea.

In 2001, he transferred to the Alaska Army National Guard where he served as an Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course and Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course Phase 1 and Phase 2 Instructor. Upon his promotion to SGM, he served as an Active Guard Reserve Operations Sergeant.

From 2005 to 2008, SGM Meegan deployed to Afghanistan and completed three consecutive tours as an advisor with the Afghanistan National Army and National Police. He served with the Special Forces elements of the US and various coalition countries.

SGM Meegan’s awards and decorations include:
Bronze Star w/V w/2 Oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star w/1 Oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 Oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal w/V, Army Commendation Medal w/ 8 Oak leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal w/ 14 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ arrowhead, NATO Medal (3), French Special Forces (Army) -Defense Nationale Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (2), Armed Force Reserve Medal w/M (3), Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3), Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (4), Korean Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal (6), Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge,
Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, British Parachute Badge, Air Assault Badge
German Schutsenshneer, US Army Excellence in Competition Badge- Rifle, US Army Excellence in Competition Badge- Pistol, Drivers Badge, Recondo Badge, Jungle Expert Badge, the AZNG Meritorious Service Medal, AZNG Southwest Asia Service Medal and the AKNG Adjutant Generals Marksmanship Medal.

Master Sergeant Scott I. Anderson

MSG Scott Anderson was born in Milwaukee, WI, graduated from Waukesha North High School in 1988, and joined the Army in August of that year. He began his career attending Basic and Advanced Individual Training for Military Police at Fort McClellan, AL. Over his 20-year career he has served in every level of leadership from Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, and is currently serving as the Battalion Command Sergeant Major for the Arctic Military Police Battalion, Fort Richardson, AK.

MSG Anderson first deployed to Bagram Airbase and Kabul, Afghanistan in 2004 with the 551st Military Police Company and served as an Operations Sergeant. His second deployment to Bagram Airbase, Kandahar, and Salerno, Afghanistan was in 2006 to 2007 with the 561st Military Police Company where he once again served as an Operations Sergeant.

MSG Anderson’s assignments include 554th MP Co, Stuttgart, Germany; 194th MP Co, Fort Campbell, KY; 92d MP Co, Darmstadt, Germany; 101st MP Co, 1-502d INF Reg, The Sabalauski Air Assault School, 551st MP Co, 1st BCT 327th INF Reg, 561st MP Co, Fort Campbell, KY; 98th Maint Co, Arctic MP BN, Fort Richardson, AK.

MSG Anderson’s military education includes Military Police OSUT training, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officers Course, First Sergeant Course, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Pathfinder School, Rappel Master Course, SPIES and FRIES Master Course, Individual Terrorist Awareness Course, Anti-Terrorism/ Force Protection Level II, Northern Warfare Course (Winter), Nuclear Biological Chemical Defense Course. MSG Anderson completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management with a Human Resources specialization from Baker College in 2009.

MSG Anderson’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal (2 Stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3), National Defense Medal (1 Star), Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (3), Multinational Forces & Observers Medal, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Singapore Parachutist Badge, Honduran Parachutist Badge, German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge (Silver and Bronze), and the Drivers Badge.

MSG Anderson is married to the former Holly Miciotto of Raleigh, NC. They have one child, Thomas age 4.