November 9, 2023
By Ian Sargent

As the nation prepares to honor its veterans this November, we take a moment to shine a spotlight on one of our own, Tiffany Sneeze. Sneeze serves the Georgia Tech community as a financial manager in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and has also dedicated two decades of her life in service to her country as a member of the United States Air Force.

Master Sergeant Sneeze is a medical technician with the 116th Medical Group (MDG), a part of the 116^th Air Control Wing, and is based out of Warner Robins, Georgia. As a member of the 116th MDG, Sneeze helps support operations at Robins Air Force Base and also ensures the wing’s military members are hearty and healthy enough to deploy.

Sneeze enlisted after graduating from college. Seeking a stronger sense of accomplishment, she spent time learning all she could about enlisting and found the military to be the perfect fit. "The military has been good to me” Sneeze expressed. “I have supported some great missions, had some of the best training, and met some amazing people!"

One of Sneeze’s recent favorite memories involves her active participation in two crucial COVID missions in 2021. For seven months, she was part of a Mobile COVID Vaccination Team, traveling across Georgia to administer thousands of COVID vaccines to military members, their dependents, and army units deployed in the Atlanta area. In the latter half of 2021, Sneeze played a vital role in supporting the Emergency Department at Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Reflecting on these missions, Sneeze shared, "Even amid a pandemic, where so many lives were impacted negatively, it felt good to know that I was doing something positive to help others. And the teams I worked with were amazing. We were able to keep our patients, as well as each other, encouraged despite what was happening around us."

For Sneeze, Veterans Day holds a profound meaning: "It means service and sacrifice. It is an honor to be someone who serves and sacrifices for the freedom of our nation, and I am profoundly grateful for all of those who serve with me and those who have served before me."

Sneeze's commitment to service extends beyond her military duties. While she doesn't have a personal tradition for Veterans Day, her unit often seeks volunteers for events around the state, emphasizing the collective spirit of service ingrained in military life.

Looking ahead, Sneeze eagerly anticipates the upcoming holidays. However, this year, Thanksgiving holds a bittersweet note as she navigates the absence of her mother, who passed away last December. "I really miss my mother's presence — her hugs, her smile, her laugh, and her cooking," Sneeze shared.

As we express our gratitude for Sneeze's service, let us also extend our deepest appreciation to all veterans who have dedicated their lives to protect and serve.