Senior Master Sergeant (Retired) Michael N. Cassady served in the United States Air Force from 1987 to 2013.   Mike served as a Medical Services Technician for four years with assignments to the Philippines and Mississippi, and in 1991 deployed in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. After his deployment, he was accepted to cross train into the Weather career field, after which he was assigned as a weather observer at Travis Air Force Base, CA. Later, as a Combat Weather Forecaster, Mike deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to help enforce the No-fly Zone as part of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. During an assignment to Japan, Mike was selected to be a television broadcast meteorologist for the Far East Network - Okinawa, part of the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service, providing local weather forecasts to the American military community every evening. While stationed in Germany, he provided rear echelon forecast support to Army V Corps combat operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Albania during Operation ALLIED FORCE. In addition, Mike provided weather intelligence in support of US European Command, NATO, NASA, and even Presidential operations across the European and African continents. As the Detachment Chief of Det 4, 18^th Weather Squadron in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Mike oversaw combat weather support to the 101^st Airborne Division. It was there he volunteered for his final deployment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, this time to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Based in Bagram, he served as the Superintendent of the 19th Expeditionary Weather Squadron, managing the Air Force Combat Weather Forecasters integrated with Army combat operations throughout the NATO-led Regional Commands of Afghanistan.

Mike is currently employed as a Support Services Supervisor at the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Benefits Office in Reno, Nevada. He is a Gold Legacy Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), as well as a Life Member of Disabled American Veterans. Mike serves as the VFW Department of Nevada Membership Chair, District 3 Chaplain, and Post Adjutant for Silver State Post 3396 in Sparks, Nevada.