The Veterans Appreciation Breakfast hosted by the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Center for Veteran, Military and Family Programs will be held Nov. 11 from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Erickson Alumni Center. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. This event is free and open to the public. Register online for the event by Nov. 4.
LTC Tanya S. McGonegal is the keynote speaker for the Veterans Appreciation Breakfast. McGonegal is the first African American brigade commander in the history of the West Virginia National Guard. She was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to a military family and was commissioned through the Virginia State Officer Candidate School as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps in 1999.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a Master’s of Science Degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University. She is also a graduate of the Military Police Officer Basic Course, Military Police Advanced Officer Course, Combined Arms Exercise Course, Intermediate Level Education/Advanced Operations Officer Course resident Command General Staff College, and Joint and Combined Warfighting School – JPME II. She is currently enrolled in U.S. Army War College, Defense Distance Education Senior Service College.
McGonegal's awards and decorations include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (six oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, German Armed Forces Badge (Gold), Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, and the Military Police Regimental Association, Order of the Marechaussee Award (Bronze).
She is married to LTC Steele McGonegal, Battalion Commander of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 1st of the 116th Infantry Brigade, Virginia Army National Guard. They are the proud parents of daughter Lilly (19) and son Steele (17).
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, WVU Student Life and Custom Concept Upholstery & Cycle Shop sponsor the event.
For questions regarding the Veterans Appreciation Breakfast, contact Kirsten Brown-Barnicle at 304.293.7470 or by email at kbrown30@mail.wvu.edu.