SAIGE Warrior Society
The Society of American Indian Government Employees established a Warrior Society as a Special Program within the organization. The Warrior Society is open to any SAIGE member who currently is or has been a member of the Armed Forces with honorable service.
The Warrior Society focuses on military and veteran issues within the SAIGE organization and assists with the planning and conduct of the Warrior/Veterans Track during the SAIGE annual training program.
To become a member of the SAIGE Warrior Society please send an email to chair@saige.org with the Subject: Warrior Society, along with your name, email contact information, period of service and status. Once that is received and SAIGE membership is confirmed you will receive a confirmation email.
The Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) is proud to announce the
2026 Military/Veterans Meritorious Service Award, a recognition honoring military members and veterans for their exemplary contribution to government service.
This award is open to all Active Duty, Reservists, Guardsmen and Veterans employed in Government Service. Nominations are due Oct. 1, 2026. No late submissions.
This award recognizes exceptional service by Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard service members, and veterans employed in government service (Federal, State, Local, Tribal, or any other governmental entity) during the award period of January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
For more information and eligibility criteria download the information letter from SAIGE Chair Ed Blauvelt HERE: 2026 SAIGE Military_Veterans Meritorious Service Award-1
If you wish to nominate someone also see the the Nomination Transmittal form HERE:
AWARD NOMINATION TRANSMITTAL FORM v2026 (1) (1)
Meritorious Service Awardees will be honored during the 2026 Virtual National Training Program in November.
Awardees honored at the SAIGE National Training Program
June 6, 2024.
2024 SAIGE Military Meritorious Service Award winners:
Senior Airmen Connor Crawn, (Mohawk and Anishinaabe), US Air Force, 51st Fighter Wing
Staff Sergeant Sharon Quneenie (Asa’carsarmiut and Yupik), Alaska Air National Guard, 176th Wing
Staff Sergeant Desirea Yazzie, (Navajo), US Air Force, 82nd Training Wing
Technical Sergeant Darrell Charlee, (Navajo), US Air Force, Air Force Inspection Agency
Technical Sergeant Anastacia Rodriguez, (Ramah Navajo and Acoma), US Air Force, 6th Air Refueling Wing
Second Lieutenant Richard Landeaux, (Lakota), South Dakota Army National Guard, 196th Regional Training Institute
Lieutenant Justin Townsend, (Choctaw), US Coast Guard, Coast Guard Cryptologic Unit
Major Patrick Sorensen, (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde), US Army, Communication Directorate, TRADOC
Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay Freeman, (Lumbee), US Air Force, 33rd Fighter Wing
Mr. Danny Villareal, (Lipan Apache), Veteran-Army, Director of Veterans, Lipan Apache Tribe
These remarkable AI/AN military and veteran leaders were recognized during the SAIGE National Training Program Veterans Luncheon on 6 June 2024 at the Northern Quest Hotel in Spokane, WA. See more at our event site at www.saigetraining.org
- 2022 Meritorious Service Awardees (Alphabetical Order)
Adams II, Gary R., City of Phoenix Police Department, USN, USMC and USA veteran
Brinkley, Matthew P., Commander, USCG
Edwardson, Robert, USCG, retired USCG veteran
Hudson, Sissy, US Corps of Engineers
Lockman II, Randolp R., SFC, WI ARNG
Mergenthaler, David L. Jr., GS12 USCG, retired USCG veteran
Peshlakai, Otis M., SSgt, USMC
Sturdivant, Melissa, GS9, USDA, USA veteran
Thompson III, Douglas W., 1LT, USA
Wright, Jody, LTC, USA
2021 Meritorious Service Awardees are, in alphabetical order:
Mrs. Rosemary Cook, GS6, USAF Civilian (USAF Veteran), Altus AFB, Oklahoma
CPT Matthew Cordell, US Army, ROTC Minneapolis, Minnesota
SMSgt Jeremy Fogleman, USAF, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
Mr. Jeffrey Johnson, GS9, USAF Civilian (USAF Veteran), Randolph AFB, Texas
PO2 Corylee Redhorse, USCG, USCG Base Los Angeles Long Beach, California
GySgt Stephanie Roman, USMC, Camp Pendleton, California
PO Dyna Sandoval, USCG, Air Station Sacramento, California
MSgt Kristal Stacy, USAF, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
Maj Teresa Thompson, USAF, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona
SSgt Lesa Vaughn, USAF, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
Congratulations to all the Winners!
2019 MILITARY MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDEES
