Colonel Meghan A. Kennerly assumed command as Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in English and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
Designated a 6002 Aircraft Maintenance Officer, she reported to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 (MALS-31), Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina, serving as the Quality Assurance Officer, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer (AAMO), and leading the first Marine Corps squadron through AIRSpeed implementation. First Lieutenant Kennerly also served in two F/A-18 flying squadrons, Marine All Weather Fight Attack Squadron 332 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, deploying with the T-Bolts aboard the USS ENTERPRISE in direct support of OPERATION IRAQI/ENDURING FREEDOM.
Captain Kennerly attended Expeditionary Warfare School and subsequently served as a summer augment at Officer Candidate School. Captain Kennerly then reported to the Aviation Logistics Division, Marine Corps Forces Command as the AAMO overseeing force generation, legacy aircraft transition development and acquisitions, and contracting initiatives. Captain Kennerly assumed the position of Operations Officer, Headquarters Service Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Command.
Major Kennerly returned to MALS-31 to serve as the executive officer. She deployed as an individual augment to the Special Operations Advisory Team (SOAT), Special Operations Advisory Group in Kabul and Mesa Sharif, Afghanistan. She served as the executive officer for the MI-17 and PC-12 squadrons as SOAT mentored and advised Afghan special operational forces in counter-drug and counterterrorism missions.
Major Kennerly was assigned to Fourth Recruit Training Battalion, Parris Island, where she served as the executive officer and interim battalion commander. She was reassigned as the executive officer First Recruit Training Battalion as part of an effort to integrate the Recruit Training Regiment.
Major Kennerly was assigned as the Operations Officer, Marine Air Ground Task Force, Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California overseeing the coordination and execution of Service Level Training initiatives, collation and joint training, and experimentation and testing aboard the Combat Center.
Lieutenant Colonel Kennerly took command of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, MCAS Miramar, California, assuming the bulk of logistical requirements for 3d Marine Aircraft Wing’s assault support to include 6 MV-22 and 4 CH-53 squadrons.
Following command, Lieutenant Colonel Kennerly graduated from the Naval War College with highest distinction, earning a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. She was subsequently assigned to N98 as the Aviation Logistics and Maintenance Programs Resource Officer. She assumed the duties of Branch Head, Military Policy, Manpower Plans and Policy, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.