That’s right, the train is full speed ahead for team Trump. The January 6th electoral college vote certification was completed without incident, and news reports of private conversations between Senate Majority Leader John Thune and President-elect Trump are indicating that some more contentious nominees like Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense and Robert F. Kennedy Jr for Secretary of Health and Human Services indicate that they have the votes for confirmation right now. This is great news of course because expectations are high that the 47th President and his team will hit the ground running on January 20th at 12 noon Eastern Time. In order to do that the rest of the team below the principals will need to be getting under way very quickly thereafter. We’ve been covering a group of potential appointees nominated by a group of active and veteran military members called the Rank and File and one of those leaders on their list is my guest today. I don’t normally read full bios but this one is very important for you to hear. Melissa Cunningham received her commission as a Distinguished Graduate from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996. She has served in various assignments including the Joint Staff, Inspector General, academic instruction, cyber, combat communications, and air mobility operations. She served as the Deputy Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She commanded the 92nd Communications Squadron and deployed in support of operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, Melissa served as an Assistant Professor of Management and the Officer in Charge of the Women’s Rugby Team at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She also led as Director of Communications, National Capital Region-Military District of Washington and commanded the 67th Cyberspace Wing. She served as the Deputy Director of the Joint All Domain Information Advantage Task Force, Joint Staff, charged with the responsibility to support development of the Joint Warfighting Concept. Prior to her forced retirement, she served as the Director, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C. As Director, Melissa was responsible for integrating cyberspace warfare capabilities into the joint fight through strategic vision, policy, guidance, and resource advocacy. Melissa was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on June 2, 2022 and forced to retire two months later when her medical and religious accommodation requests for the COVID-19 vaccine were denied. Melissa is currently on the Board of Directors for TreQ, a start-up quantum computing company, substitute teaching for Colorado Springs Christian School, volunteering for the Special Needs Ministry at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO and attending Charis Bible College. Mel Cunningham, welcome to the Rob Maness Show.

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