Rodriguez named AC2 Whitney Powell Memorial Military Citizen of the Year

Published 4:52 am Thursday, February 26, 2026

Sgt. Desiree Rodriguez of Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron One, left, who was named this year’s AC2 Whitney Powell Memorial Military Citizen of the Year, stands for a photo with Mississippi Council of the Navy League President Joe Mercado on Wednesday at Weidmann’s Restaurant. Photo by Thomas Howard

Naval Air Station Meridian officers joined community leaders and Mississippi Council of the Navy League members Wednesday to recognize sailors who have made an impact in their community by naming this year’s AC2 Whitney Powell Memorial Military Citizen of the Year.

Powell, an Air Traffic Controller Second Class who served at NAS Meridian, was an active member in both the military community and Meridian. She volunteered with Wesley House, Lauderdale County Emergency Management, Calvary Chapel and more.

In 2013, Powell died from injuries sustained in a car wreck on Highway 39, and the Military Citizen of the Year award was renamed later that year in her honor.

This year’s nominees included Air Traffic Controller Second Class Craig Holloway from NAS Meridian, Sgt. Desiree Rodriguez of Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron One and Logistics Specialist First Class Lbryce Smith from the Naval Technical Training Center.

Capt. Michael Missler said military personnel on board NAS Meridian volunteered for almost 3,000 hours in 2025, and supporting the local community is something command staff encourages022826-news-airman young sailors to do.

“I can say that I speak for the other leadership in this room here today that we encourage our personnel to become part of the community while they are stationed here,” he said. “Meridian is our home or just a short period of time, but we take pride in knowing that we can do a small part to make the community better.”

Receiving the AC2 Whitney Powell Memorial Military Citizen of the Year award was Rodriguez, who volunteered to help out with Full Moon on Fifth, the Northeast Lauderdale High School concessions, United Way of East Mississippi’s annual Stuff the Bus campaign, The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign and more. She is also a Marine martial arts instructor, a member of the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society and a member of the Marine Color Guard.

“It’s such an honor to be nominated by my command and everyone else,” she said. “I want to thank my command for their continuous support, and I just want to thank everyone else for their continuous support and contribution to my success.”

Rodriguez said community service plays a big role in her life. Ever since childhood, she said, she has had the desire to help other people.

“I don’t do it for the recognition. I don’t do it for myself,” she said. “But I do it for my community and anybody else that would need that help.”