October 16, 2024 (Cape Cod, MA) – Heroes In Transition (HIT) is excited to announce that Meghan Keller of Plymouth, and Michael Assad Jr. of Mashpee, have recently joined its Board of Directors.
“Over the years, both Meghan and Mike have supported our organization as volunteers and participated in our Ruck4HIT,” said HIT Executive Director Nicole Spencer. “With Meghan being a combat Army veteran and with Mike having more than two decades’ worth of experience as a police officer, they have a deep-seated knowledge of the importance of our work and the need for it in our community. They add a layer of expertise that will be invaluable to our board.”
Keller spent nearly eight years in the Army Reserves, where she met her late husband Kurt in 2001. Roughly two years later, the pair were deployed to Iraq. In 2006, Kurt committed suicide; at the time, Keller was pregnant with the couple’s first child.
“Having served in the military and in combat, and witnessing the impact it had on Kurt, I understand why the types of programs that HIT offers are so needed in our community,” Keller said. “I’m honored to be helping an organization that is so close to my heart because it positively impacts the lives of so many.”
Keller was introduced to HIT in early 2022, shortly after she started working at Cape Cod Rehab in Mashpee as a physical therapist assistant. In that capacity, she has helped create a training regimen for participants in the Ruck4HIT, a 36-hour relay in which teams of 7 runners wear a weighted rucksack as they cross through every town on Cape Cod. Earlier this year, Keller participated in her first Ruck4HIT.
The event, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2025, serves as the largest fundraiser for HIT.
Assad was also introduced to Heroes In Transition through the Ruck4HIT. He participated in the race in 2017 and served as a volunteer for this year’s Ruck4HIT.
“While I never had the honor of serving in the armed forces – I’ve been working in law enforcement for 23 years as a police officer and understand how important it is to provide these types of services, especially mental health services, for people who have served our country,” said Assad, who spent 18 years with the Mashpee Police Department, earning the rank of Detective Sergeant. This summer, he was hired to serve as the Chief of Police for the Rochester Police Department.
Assad, whose father was a career law enforcement officer and is a retired Chief Deputy US Marshal, said that giving back was ingrained in him at a young age, which is why he jumped at the chance to serve on HIT’s board. “I’ve always had that in my nature,” he said. “It’s very important to me to give back to the community and the people who leave their families, go overseas for six months to a year to defend our freedoms. First responders play an important, unique role, in protecting our home front while our armed services and soldiers are overseas. I think it’s an important and close connection between our first responders and armed services members.”
Assad earned his associate’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University, a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Southern New Hampshire University, and a Master of Science in criminal justice/police administration and operations from Lasell University.
Over the past 23 years, he has received numerous recognitions for his work, including the Mashpee Police Department Community Policing Award in 2022, the New England Chiefs of Police Community Policing Award in 2022, and three Life-Saving Awards (2013, 2018, 2020). He was part of the Upper Cape Cod SWAT Team that responded to the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.
Keller received her associate degree in applied science from Bay State College, her Bachelor of Science in communications from Suffolk University, and her master’s degree in public health from Southern New Hampshire University. In 2018, she was recognized with Cape and Plymouth Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40 award.
You can learn more about Meghan and her story here. Earlier this year, WCVB featured Meghan in its 5 for Good series which you can watch by clicking this link.
