WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Rank/Name: Senior Airman Megan Hartley
Unit: 445th Civil Engineer Squadron
Duty Title: Emergency Management
Hometown: Troy, Ohio
Civilian Job: I am currently backfilling our emergency management Air Reserve Technician positions while they are vacant. I have been working closely with the 788th EM Flight to build up a training program and prepare for CBRN (Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense) exercises.
Education: I am a full-time student at Ohio State University, transitioning from a middle childhood education major to a natural resource management major.
Hobbies: Anything and everything that requires me to be outside. From hiking, biking and walking my dog to kayaking, I have a strong love for the outdoors. If I have to be stuck inside I enjoy reading and painting.
Career Goal: I have a couple of different ideas of what I would like to do. I hope to one day go on active duty. This was my original goal but I joined the Reserve to help pay for college. I’d like to possibly pursue my new major, move out of Ohio to a State/National Park area and become a park ranger or work at an education center at a State/National Park.
What do you like about working at the 445th?: Working with the 445th has given me the opportunity to utilize my training and experience in a full-time capacity. I am still learning a lot with the 445th. Between BMT (basic military training), technical school, seasoning training, COVID-19, and breaking my foot causing me to be out for a while, I haven’t had a huge interaction with many of the 445th members outside of my shop. I am hoping that being on orders will give me the opportunity to interact and get to know more Airmen. As for now, I have enjoyed my time working at the 445th and look forward to many more years.
Why did you join the Air Force?: I have a long line of military family members before me and some of my closest friends joined as well. I didn’t have an interest in joining until after I started college when I joined ROTC during my 1st semester and really liked it. At that point I had been training with one of my best friends at the gym as she was getting ready to go to BMT herself. I’m not sure what pushed me over to join, but I came to an agreement with my parents that I would join the Reserve initially, to see if I would like the military and so I could finish my degree.