EANGUS is pleased to share the following video interview highlighting our Professional Development Program which was conducted during the 2021 EANGUS National Conference in Albuquerque, NM. The interviews with EANGUS President CSM (Ret) Karen Craig and EANGUS PD Coordinator CMSgt (Ret) Edwin Brown were conducted by Senior Airman Melanie Nolen, California Air National Guard, for her Public Affairs Capstone Project. We appreciate her outstanding work on this project as well as her dedication, involvement, and leadership.

About Senior Airman Melanie Nolen
Public Affairs Specialist with California’s Air National Guard 195th Wing. Raised on a Wisconsin farm, Nolen received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in communications and marketing.

After working with the Air National Guard as a civilian contractor, Nolen enlisted in 2018 and brought her real-world, adaptive employment experience with her. Since graduating with honors from the Defense Information School at Ft. Meade, Maryland, Nolen has been activated for multiple active-duty assignments. During humanitarian relief and civil unrest missions at California Military Department Public Affairs, Nolen fulfilled an integral role as a media liaison with local/national news networks and joint military leadership at the highest echelon in support of both Army and Air missions in multiple Joint environments.

As a first-year EANGUS conference attendee and newly-elected board member of the California chapter, Nolen’s goals are to increase awareness of benefits and opportunities available to enlisted National Guard service members, to inspire them to be proactive and thrive in their Guard careers, and to encourage members to be more involved within their units and communities.