Tech. Sgt. Sarah McClanahan is a Public Affairs Specialist at the National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia. She is responsible for the social media management of three Air National Guard organizational accounts and one principal account and provides public affairs support to the Office of the director of the ANG, office of the command chief of the ANG, and office of the Chief of the NGB through the development of visual information materials in coordination with Air Force and National Guard command messages and themes.
Tech. Sgt. McClanahan entered the Air Force in November 2015. She completed Basic Photojournalism Course at the Defense Information School in May 2017 and has since held numerous public affairs positions. She has produced written and multimedia products for activities ranging from combined-joint military exercises, large-scale community engagements, senior leader engagements, and civil disturbance responses for dissemination through multiple platforms. Sgt. McClanahan has completed projects for the 175th Wing, Maryland National Guard State Public Affairs Office and NGB-PA, covering activities at the 175th Wing and the MDNG’s participation in major news events, including Maryland’s COVID-19 pandemic response, inauguration support, governor and senior leader engagements and press conferences, and NFL and MLB games. Prior to her current position, she was a public affairs specialist at the 175th Wing and MDNG State Public Affairs Office, Baltimore, Md.
In her current position, Tech. Sgt. McClanahan has covered events from a national perspective including top-level senior leader engagements, joint and combined exercises, national symposiums and conferences and she serves as a public affairs advisor for the ANG’s top three leaders during official trips, in-country and internationally.
She has supported combined-joint military exercises, including Saber Strike 2017, Vigilant Guard 2018, Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation Tri-State Innovative Readiness Training 2019, Silver Arrow 2019, Southern Strike 2021, and Air Defender 2023. She traveled overseas in support of the State Partnership Program to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Estonia, and for mission support coverage to Germany and Poland. Her work has been featured in DOD and civilian media outlets, including the DOD, U.S. European Command, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, NGB, Air Force Magazine, Star Democrat, Stars and Stripes, Citizen-Soldier, Military.com, Air & Space Forces Magazine, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Defense One, and The Southern Maryland Chronicle.
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EDUCATION
2016 Air Force Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2017 Basic Photojournalism Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md.
2018 Associate Degree, Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, Md.
2020 Airman Leadership School, by correspondence
2022 Bachelor's Degree, Mass Communication - Public Relations, Towson University, Towson, Md.
2023 Intermediate Public Affairs Specialist Course, DINFOS, Fort Meade, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. November 2015–June 2016, Trainee, 175th Wing Student Flight, 175th Wing, Md.
2. June 2016–August 2016, Trainee, 322nd Training Squadron, Flight 552, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
3. August 2016–January 2017, Public Affairs Specialist Helper, 175th Wing Student Flight, 175th Wing, Md.
4. January 2017–May 2017, Student, Detachment 2, 336th Training Squadron, DINFOS, Fort Meade, Md.
5. May 2017–March 2022, Public Affairs Specialist Apprentice, 175th Wing Public Affairs, 175th Wing, Md.
6. June 2019–March 2022, Public Affairs Specialist Journeyman, Maryland National Guard State Public Affairs Office, Baltimore, Md.
7. March 2022–Present, Public Affairs Specialist Craftsman, National Guard Bureau Public Affairs, NGB, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Services Medal
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
Air and Space Training Ribbon
Maryland National Guard Outstanding Airmen of the Year Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2020 1st Place, Feature Story, NGB Media Contest - Air Force (MMA)
2020 2nd Place, News Photo, Military Visual Awards
2021 1st Place, Sports Photo, NGB Media Contest - Air Force (MMA)
2021 2nd Place, Military Writer of the Year, NGB Media Contest - Air Force (MMA)
2021 3rd Place, Photojournalism, NGB Media Contest - Air Force (MMA)
2022 Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter, Quarter Two, NGB
2022 Rising Star, Public Relations Society of America - Maryland Chapter
2022 1st Place, Military Writer of the Year, NGB Media Contest - Air Force (MMA)
2023 Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter, Quarter Two, NGB
2023 Air Force Public Affairs Award for Communication Excellence, Sgt. Christopher S. Frost Outstanding Communication NCO - Air National Guard
2023 1st Place, Military Writer of the Year, NGB Media Contest - Air Force (MMA)
2023 1st Place, Photojournalism, NGB Media Contest - Air Force (MMA)
2023 2nd Place, Information Story, NGB Media Contest - Air Force (MMA)
2023 2nd Place, News Photo, NGB Media Contest - Air Force (MMA)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman, Nov. 15, 2015
Airman 1st Class, June 30, 2017
Senior Airman, July 19, 2018
Staff Sergeant, Oct. 23, 2020
Technical Sergeant, Dec. 15, 2022
(CURRENT AS OF MARCH 2024)