Charlton J. Meginley, Col (Ret), USAF

Secretary

Louisiana’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Charlton J. Meginley, Colonel (ret) United States Air Force, is responsible for overseeing the department’s $90 million budget and 850 employees statewide. Appointed by Governor Jeff Landry, Secretary Meginley manages the operations of five state Veterans homes, five state Veterans cemeteries, 74 Veterans service offices, 32 college and university campus student Veteran centers. Department programming includes the Military Family Assistance Fund, the Veterans Honor Medal Program and a host of outreach initiatives serving homeless, incarcerated and women Veterans as well as Gold Star mothers and families. Additionally, outreach works with Veteran service organizations and for- and non-profit groups with regard to Veteran employment and suicide prevention.

Secretary Meginley served in the U.S. Air Force as a Judge Advocate on active duty for more than 20 years, completing his military career as an Appellate Military Judge on the Air Force’s Court of Criminal Appeals at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Prior to his final assignment, Secretary Meginley was the Staff Judge Advocate of the 62nd Airlift Wing, McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington where he oversaw legal operations for one of the most visible airlift wings in the Department of Defense. Secretary Meginley also served as an Air Force defense counsel in three assignments, most recently as the Chief Senior Defense Counsel for the Air Force’s Central Circuit at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Overall, Secretary Meginley served in 11 assignments at nine installations throughout the world, including a deployment to the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force at Balad Air Base in Iraq.

Following his military retirement, Secretary Meginley returned to Louisiana and joined then Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s staff as his General Counsel where he provided guidance and authority on Louisiana’s Election and Commercial Codes. Secretary Meginley is married to his wife Therese. Together, they have four daughters. Secretary Meginley is originally from Alexandria, La., and is a graduate of Holy Savior Menard High School in Alexandria, the University of Louisiana at Monroe and the Louisiana State University Law Center.

Education

  • 1999 Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA
  • 2002 Juris Doctor – Bachelor of Civil Law, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
  • 2004 Squadron Officer School (correspondence)
  • 2006 Squadron Officer School (residence), Maxwell AFB, AL
  • 2009 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)2012 Air Command and Staff College (residence) – Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
  • 2015 Air War College (correspondence)
  • 2024 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, George W. Bush Institute, Dallas, TX

Military Assignments

  • January 2003 – July 2006, Chief, Labor Law & Chief, Military Justice, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, AZ
  • July 2006 – September 2007, Chief of Military Law, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL (March 2007 – September 2007, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula, Iraq)
  • September 2007 – July 2009, Area Defense Counsel, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Hurlburt Field, FL
  • July 2009 – July 2011, Senior Defense Counsel, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
  • July 2011 – June 2012, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
  • June 2012 – July 2014, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, CA
  • July 2014 – July 2016, Chief, Military Justice, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, IL
  • July 2016 – July 2018, Chief Senior Defense Counsel, Central Circuit, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Joint Base San Antonio – Randolph, TX
  • July 2018 – July 2020, Staff Judge Advocate, 62d Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
  • July 2020 – December 2022, Appellate Military Judge, United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, Joint Base Andrews, MD


Major Awards and Decorations

  • Legion of Merit
  • Meritorious Service Medal, with four devices
  • Joint Commendation Service Medal
  • Iraq Campaign Medal Air Force Commendation Medal, with one device
  • 56th Fighter Wing Staff Agencies Company Grade Officer of the Year, 2004 & 2005
  • JAJD (Trial Defense Division) Company Grade Officer of the Year, 2008

Publications

  • “’More Than A Dependent’ – Legal Professionals Advocating for Legislative Changes for Professional Military Spouses Employment.” The Air Force JAG Corps Reporter. 10 January 2020.