NASM XO speaker at MCC vets’ day

Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., Executive Officer CDR John-Paul “JP” Falardeau will be the keynote speaker when Meridian Community College pays tribute to veterans with a public ceremony Nov. 7 in Graham Gymnasium. “This is our way of honoring all veterans of the United States military, especially our faculty, staff and student veteran community at MCC,” said Pam Baranello, MCC military/veterans services coordinator. MCC has 30-plus faculty/staff members that are military veterans she said. Twelve are serving in the Air and Army National Guard. Also, 270 student-veterans and dependents are using veterans' education benefits at MCC. Falardeau is a naval academy graduate with a degree in history. He holds a master's degree in organizational leadership from Brandman University. He earned his ‘Wings of Gold’ in June 2005 at NAS Meridian. His shore assignments have included a tour with the "Warbucks" of Training Squadron 4 at NAS Pensacola, Fla. He was the 2010 Chief of Naval Air Training’s Instructor Pilot of the Year. (Source: Meridian Star 11/01/19)