Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (left), Andrew Gaddis and his wife, Meredith Gaddis, at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Photo by Tia Dufour.
Andrew Gaddis described his role in the military as that of a “silent professional.” He rarely discusses his job at length and certainly doesn’t expect any rewards from it.
This changed in October when Gaddis, a criminal justice major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, received the Secretary’s Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Award Ceremony.
The medal—the second-highest award presented by the Secretary—recognizes outstanding leadership, superior public service or unusually significant contributions to strengthening homeland security.
Gaddis medically retired in March after eight years in the U.S. Coast Guard. Initially, he faced a unique hurdle when joining in 2016: he was beyond the age limit.
“I was already way past the age cutoff for what’s accepted into the Coast Guard,” said Gaddis, a Chattanooga native. “The age cutoff is 27, and I was already 30.”
A recruiter encouraged him to apply anyway. Soon after, he was accepted.
After boot camp, Gaddis began his Coast Guard career on a patrol boat in Jacksonville, Florida, participating in counter-drug operations and search and rescue missions.
Driven by his interest in law enforcement, he applied to become a maritime law enforcement specialist and earned a spot on the Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) outside Chesapeake, Virginia—an impressive achievement as the only member of his training class chosen for the elite assignment.
In MSRT, Gaddis served in the Direct Action Section, where he worked as an advanced tactical operator specializing in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives. He also gained expertise in counter-drone operations, providing security for large events and government agencies such as the Secret Service.
“We did it for things like the State of the Union address in D.C. to protect the president,” he said. “We did it for events like the World Series and the Super Bowl, and we’ve even done it for big air shows and things like that.”
Andrew and Meredith Gaddis
After years of high-stakes assignments, he had a shift in perspective when he found out his wife was pregnant with their first child. Days after receiving the news, he was on a mission that involved jumping out of a helicopter.
“It was the first time I thought, ‘What am I doing?’” he recalled. “I have a pregnant wife at home. I’m getting ready to jump out of this helicopter and go take care of business.”
To wrap up his military career with the award from Homeland Security was something he never expected. He found out after being contacted by one of his former MSRT team leaders.
“It was 10 o’clock at night and one of my team leads called me and was like, ‘Hey, we’re going to have to go to D.C. soon,’” he said. “It was cool to hear that and to talk to him. I thought something was wrong when he called me.”
Dr. Tammy Garland, a criminal justice professor whom Gaddis counts among his favorites, said she was not surprised to see him receive this award.
“I am ecstatic to see Andrew honored for his dedication and commitment to our country,” she said. “Being awarded the prestigious Department of Homeland Security 2024 Secretary’s Award does not come as a surprise as Andrew demonstrates as much dedication in the classroom as he does in his professional life.
“Regardless of the modality of the course, Andrew is always engaged providing high quality work. He is a model student within the classroom and the department and often leads in discussions. It is, however, his character that sets him above others. I have had numerous students who were brilliant over the last 20 years, but Andrew is truly the most humble student I have ever encountered. He is kind and thoughtful, and conscientious. More importantly, in a world where shortcuts and passing the buck have become normalized, his integrity is without question.”
Now retired from the military and a father of two—a 3-year-old daughter and a 3-month-old son—Gaddis is embracing being at home with his family and completing his degree. Set to graduate in spring 2025, he said initially coming to UTC in 2015 was a “no-brainer” after earning an associate degree from Chattanooga State Community College.
“I was born and raised here,” he said. “My parents went to UTC; my siblings went to UTC. My grandfather was a vice chancellor here.”
His grandfather, Russell White, was vice chancellor of finance from 1968 until shortly before he died in 1973. White was also a World War II veteran and a Purple Heart recipient, Gaddis said.
As he considers his next steps, Gaddis said he is keeping his options open, with possible plans to attend law school or graduate school.
Dr. Gale Iles, one of Gaddis’ favorite professors, said she is confident that he will strive for greatness in whatever he does.
“I have been teaching at UTC for 18 years and Mr. Gaddis is by far one of my most memorable students,” Iles said. “His dedication to learning, his high level of critical thinking and analytical skills, and his willingness to help when needed are some of the qualities that make him stand out as a student.
“Not only does he exhibit a natural talent for taking difficult concepts and presenting it in a way that his peers can understand, but he also has an uncanny ability to look beyond the surface to uncover principles and ideas that are not easily visible.”
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