SMSgt. Gary Meacham of the 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah, on Feb. 24 received a Bronze Star medal for his meritorious service during a one-year deployment to Iraq that ended last July. The Standard-Examiner of Ogden reported Thursday that Meacham was superintendent of the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron at Kirkuk Regional Air Base during this tour. In this role, he served as a combat air advisor to the Iraqi air force leadership, advising it on issues such as fixed-wing maintenance operations and production supervision. His efforts resulted in a large increase in the availability of training aircraft for the Iraqis.
Walking the flight line occupied by Blackhawk attack helicopters and American troops on rotation at the “MK” air base in Romania, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III highlighted the important strategic value of one of NATO’s newest members Oct. 20 ahead of NATO defense ministerial meetings in Brussels Oct. 21-22.…