Erin McLoughlin

Technical Sergeant, U.S. Air Force

Healthcare Management, Trident University

HERO Child Rescue Corps

Erin enlisted in the U.S. Air Force directly following high school. Upon completion of basic training and graduation from medical laboratory technician school, she deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq four times in support of Special Operations Forces as an aircrew instructor.

During flight testing, Erin suffered a rare form of decompression illness that permanently damaged her nervous system. At the time of her injury, Erin was only a few courses away from completing her bachelor’s degree in healthcare management.  Not one to give up, she applied to the Sentinels of Freedom Program, determined to finish her degree.  SOF was able to ease Erin’s financial burdens by helping with her car payments and tuition costs.  She was able to focus on her studies and graduate with her bachelor’s degree from Trident University, as well as completing the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO) Child-Rescue Corps program; a year-long unpaid internship. SOF also assisted Erin with her resume, and she was subsequently hired as a computer forensic analyst with the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

Since her graduation, Erin relocated from Arizona to Colorado and created a new home near the mountains. She accepted a position with Highmark Company as a Technical Analyst where she is now able to work from home and spend time with her two dogs, Spock and Leo.

“Sentinels of Freedom has provided me with support and a group of professionals that go beyond a scholarship. Each individual that I have met and been in contact with I can consider a friend and someone to trust. Being a SOF member/graduate makes me extremely proud. SOF provided me with so much more than the ability to go to school; you provided me with the confidence to get my life back in order knowing I had you rooting for me every step of the way.”