Galloway Ridge strives to create the kind of community that people want to belong to, and we have our residents to thank for it. People who choose to live here come from all over and bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion with them, but even if they worked in a high-profile or high-power position, they prefer a humble, modest life in retirement. When good news about one of our residents comes our way, we like to share it with the community, especially if we know that resident isn’t likely to toot his or her own horn.
If you haven’t met George Meinig yet, you may want to introduce yourself. George is an active member of our community, but you may not realize that he is also a highly decorated Naval officer. Rear Admiral Meinig (Ret.) served this nation as both an active duty officer and a civilian consultant for fifty years, and continues today. During his time in the Navy, he became, in his words, “a weapons specialist”, and brought both the Phalanx Close In Weapon System and the Aegis Weapon System into the Navy as Program Manager. Along the way, George was the commanding officer of the Naval Surface Warfare Center providing laboratory, engineering, and technical support to the fleet with a total staff of over 22,000 under his leadership.
After his military retirement, he continued as a consultant with the Navy as the leader of the Senior Advisory Team for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, the heart of the Navy’s integrated air and missile defense programs. In his tenure, he oversaw changing technologies and even extended support to some of our nation’s allies who implemented similar defense capabilities. You might say he is an authority on some of the most advanced technology protecting our nation, allied forces, and much of Europe
It’s a role that seems fitting for our George, if you think about it. We are protected every day by a system most of us either know nothing about or don’t realize exists, a quiet sentinel making a monumental difference in our safety and security. George, in his own way, is also quiet, and not one to tout his achievements or take much credit for his life’s work.
Which brings us to George’s honor, the ceremony on October 18, 2019, in the city of Moorestown, New Jersey. The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Engineering Center, a new facility that contains the latest equipment to maintain and support the Navy fleet’s foremost weapons system, has been named in honor of RADM George R. Meinig, Jr., United States Navy (Retired).
Having a Naval building named for someone is no small undertaking. It’s a process that involves nomination, discussion, and approval at multiple levels, much as you would expect from any military operation. Vice Admiral Jon Hill kicked it off by nominating George and was also a speaker at the dedication ceremony. That level of recognition from a highly respected peer is an honor in and of itself, but it speaks volumes of the kind of person George has been throughout his career and lifetime.
George and his family attended the ceremony, along with many of his close friends and colleagues, both military and civilian. He has since returned to his home in Galloway Ridge and the life he has made here as a part of our community. He has plenty to be proud of, but you won’t find him sharing his achievement in grand fashion. We are happy to do that for him.
What brings a man of his caliber to our corner of Pittsboro? The short answer is family, as he and his wife Jan wanted to be close to their daughter in Durham, whom he affectionately refers to as “Durham Daughter.” The long answer is that, even with many years of living near the Washington Beltway and the Northeast, George and his wife didn’t find what they were looking for near where they lived in Pennsylvania. Their Durham daughter suggested they consider Galloway Ridge, and the rest, as they say, is history. George and his wife made their new home here and joined our community, and we are lucky to have them. In his modest way, George explained it best:” Once I saw the cows, I knew I was home.” We couldn’t agree more.
