U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Margaret Meehan, Class of 2025, has been selected for a highly competitive Marshall Scholarship, a fully-funded 2-year postgraduate program in the United Kingdom.
Founded by a 1953 Act of Parliament and named in honor of U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the Marshall Scholarship’s website says it commemorates the humane ideals of the Marshall Plan and expresses the continuing gratitude of the British people to their American counterparts.
“I am immensely proud of Cadet Meehan and her selection for the prestigious Marshall Scholarship. This honor speaks volumes about Meehan’s resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to academic excellence and service,” said Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre, U.S. Air Force Academy Dean of the Faculty. “It also underscores the tireless support of our faculty and staff, who provide an environment that challenges our cadets to reach their fullest potential and inspires them to push the boundaries of what is possible.”
Meehan is a data science and operations research major who will graduate and commission into the U.S. Air Force as a second lieutenant in May.
“Being selected for this scholarship is an incredible honor, and one that would not be possible without the opportunities that the Academy has provided me,” said Meehan. “It truly is a testament to the army of people who have supported and mentored me throughout my time as a cadet and especially throughout this process.”
Marshall Scholars have options to study at primary and partnering universities and colleges throughout the United Kingdom. Meehan’s first choice for her graduate study is two years at the London School of Economics and Political Science studying Data Science for Public Policy.
At the Academy, Meehan’s undergraduate research included the NASA International Space Station’s Antenna Management Program, where she worked to predict when there would be communication outages on the ISS. As a cadet, she did a Cadet Summer Research Program in Germany as a Stamps Scholar working on computer vision programs with U.S. Special Operations Command-Europe. She also traveled to Poland to participate in the American Service Academies Program with cadets and midshipmen from the other U.S. service academies to learn about military ethics and the Holocaust.
“Being a Marshall scholar will give me the chance to engage with some of the brightest minds in the world, both academically and culturally, and to bring those insights back to the U.S. Air Force,” said Meehan. “I will study how data can inform policy, specifically through the lens of military recruitment and retention, and I hope to return to the Air Force with new tools to address challenges in that area, fostering a supportive environment for servicemembers, preparing me to lead with empathy and innovation.”
“Cadet Meehan's journey as a warfighter scholar will be enriched by the experiences and knowledge she will gain in the U.K., further propelling their potential to lead and innovate,” said Letendre.
The Western Springs, Ill. native will enter U.S. Air Force undergraduate pilot training following her time in the United Kingdom. She is the Academy’s 25th Marshall Scholar. Official photo: Cadet 1st Class Margaret Meehan
-30-
For more information, please contact U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications at (719) 333- 7731 or email media.rel@afacademy.af.edu