Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton J. Meginley Explains Why Veterans Are Vital to Local Communities

Charlton J. Meginley, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, recently joined the program from Washington, D.C. He was in the nation’s capital for Washington Mardi Gras and meetings focused on improving support for Louisiana veterans. Even with record cold and snow, his priority stayed clear: advocating for those who served.Meginley grew up in Alexandria and comes from a family shaped by military service. After earning his degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and completing law school, he joined the U.S. Air Force as a Judge Advocate General. What began as a short commitment turned into more than 20 years of service. His career took his family across the country and overseas.