Advisory Board
Photo of Cindy Meili

Cindy Meili

Cindy is the assistant director of the Onondaga County Veteran Service Agency in Syracuse, New York. She also serves as the veteran outreach coordinator for Skaneateles, New York, where she developed and implemented a model of community veteran and military outreach that is making a direct impact in the Central New York region.

 

A seasoned total force military spouse of nearly 28 years and parent of an active duty Air Force member, she has diverse experience across the enlisted, officer, and active duty Air Force and Air National Guard communities. She has utilized this experience to build programs to assist our military members and their families, as well as raise awareness about the unique challenges they face from entry into military service through separation/retirement. Her efforts have created a community of understanding of what today’s National Guard role is, as well as shed light on the challenges they face while living up to the mission of “Always Ready, Always There.”

Cindy earned a paralegal degree from Central Texas College, European Campus and holds New York State certification in Special Education Teaching Assistance, Foster Care Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, and Behavioral Management Support. She is the first non-veteran in New York State to receive dual congressionally recognized accreditation from the New York Division of Veteran Services and the National Association of County Veteran Service Officer Inc.

She serves as a mentor for the Military Spouse Advocacy Network for new military spouses and is the Key Spouse Mentor for her husband’s military unit. She has been recognized as Top 18 Armed Forces Insurance Spouse of the Year and was named the 2020-2021 Armed Forces Insurance New York National Guard Military Spouse of the Year.