Blog | Todd McKinley

Todd McKinley

Apr 42 min read

The Todd A. McKinley Scholarship (2025)

Updated: Aug 2

Memorandum For: Sullivan West Ridge High School Seniors (Class of 2025)

SUBJECT: The Todd A. McKinley Scholarship

1. I’m pleased to announce the Todd A. McKinley scholarship for the fourth graduating class of West Ridge, the Class of 2025.

2. This scholarship will be available to only 2-graduating seniors, from West Ridge’s class of 2025, the fourth graduating class. It will be awarded primarily based on character, academic qualifications; career goals, projects, accomplishments, and educational plans, and any recommendation letters will also be considered. The scholarship is in the amount of a one-time payment of $1,000 to the winner, and $500 to the runner-up, which will be made to the awardees after officially and successfully graduating, but the winners will be named during the 2025 awards day.

3. Minimum Prerequisites:

a. Be a person of good character.

b. Be a West Ridge 2025 graduate in 4 years or less.

c. Have at least a 3.0 GPA

d. Be involved in at least one extracurricular activity outside of normal school hours, either sponsored by the school or a reputable organization. Regularly volunteering in the community will suffice.

e. Not required but encouraged: A letter of recommendation from a West Ridge faculty member, former Teacher, an elected official, community leader, coach, etc., but not from a relative.

4. How to apply:

a. Complete the attached application. (Email me for an application: Todd@toddmckinley.com)

b. Submit all required documentation before the deadline. Applications will not be reviewed until after the deadline, therefore changes to submitted applications will be allowed until then.

5. Application deadline is 5:00 pm on Friday, April 4th, 2025.

6. Submit all applications to Todd@toddmckinley.com

Subject: Todd A. McKinley Scholarship: Your Last Name, Your First Name

Title all documents appropriately. Use Word and/or PDF if possible.

7. I look forward to receiving the applications and rendering a timely unbiased decision. Note, my decision will be based solely on the criteria above, no applicant will be discriminated against based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.

8. Any questions and applications should be emailed to the undersigned.

Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL

SFC, USA-Ret.

Todd@toddmckinley.com

Todd McKinley

Feb 53 min read

Campaign Pledges

Updated: Apr 17

February 5, 2024

Memorandum For: The Residents of Sullivan County School Board District-5

SUBJECT: Campaign Pledges

1. I, Todd Allen McKinley, with this signed memorandum, do solemnly pledge to the residents of Sullivan County Board of Education (BOE) District-5 to adhere to and support the following areas, and more. Note: The U.S. & Tennessee Constitutions appear first, the rest are in alphabetical order, as each area is important.

A. The U.S. & Tennessee Constitution: I’ve sworn an oath to “support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic” on many occasions, which to me hasn’t expired since the first time I took the oath when I was eighteen (18) years old. When I’m sworn in, it will be a reaffirmation of that oath.

B. Accessibility: I will be available to every 5th district resident, which includes meeting with those who attend County BOE & Commission meetings, monthly social media town halls, quarterly in-person meetings within the district, weekly blog updates here to inform the public and provide links to important information, attending community functions, answering emails daily, and more. (Todd@toddmckinley.com)

C. Budget & Public Comment Period: I'll never support needless spending, especially if there's no true direct benefit for the Students and Teachers of the 5th district and Sullivan County. Also, I’ll work to ensure the public has ample time, at least 30 days before any major action is taken, especially when it comes to spending millions of taxpayer money.

D. Education: Sullivan County students should be able to graduate with a well-rounded education, one that will equip them for the world that awaits them. As I say, an educated public is an employable public. That’s why every Teacher should have the pay & benefits, as well as the tools and funding they need to educate our nation's future. Remember, industry only moves into areas with an educated population. With a young, educated population, as evidenced across the country, local populations, from the young to the old alike benefit when this happens. More jobs mean more money in each area, which means more spending, which benefits local businesses and local governments through taxes, thus reducing the burdens on everyone, especially the working class as well as the elderly and aging.

E. My Pay: Some of my pay will go to increase the amount of my current scholarship offered to one West Ridge Senior, plus I’ll likely add at least an additional scholarship.

F. Oaths, Ethos’, Creeds, and Values: Find out more here.

G. Safety & Security: The safety and security of the students, and every employee of the BOE will be a major focus of mine. While serving more than 20 years in the Army and having served in some of the most dangerous places on earth, including combat tours in Afghanistan & Iraq, as well as having served closely with Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement, especially the United States Secret Service and the Diplomatic Security Service and dozens of Regional Security Officers at various U.S. Embassy’s the world over, I fully understand personal and physical security and have assisted in the security of three (3) U.S. Presidents & Vice Presidents, and other world leaders. I’ll ensure that the proper resources are made available to ensure the safety of everyone at every school.

H. Term Limits: I pledge to serve no more than two (2), four (4)-year terms in my lifetime.

I. Transparency: I will be honest in all I say and do and will keep the public apprised of everything I do when it comes to my duties as a BOE member.

Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL

SFC, USA-Ret.

Todd@toddmckinley.com

Todd McKinley

Nov 18, 20222 min read

Veterans Suicide and My Late Best Friend Bradley J. Bush

Updated: Nov 5, 2023

On November 18th, 2022, I began writing a book, with the working title “Veterans Suicide and My Late Best Friend Bradley J. Bush.” I hoped to have finished and published it by now, but with my schedule, I put it to the side, so as not to rush it.

That said, I should reiterate that I'm dedicating the book to the memory of my late best friend, fellow Army Veteran and Paratrooper Bradley J. Bush (March 11th, 1975-December 24th, 2017), who committed suicide on Christmas Eve 2017. I'm dedicating it to every Veteran who’s committed suicide, and their families. https://www.forevermissed.com/brad-bush/about

My plan is to introduce you (the reader) to my late best friend through a series of short stories, and dozens of sayings Brad used regularly. But this will not be a biography, instead, it’ll serve as a reminder that life is precious and that a Veteran or anyone who commits suicide is more than just a number or statistic, they are fellow human beings.

It's important to remember that those who take their own lives not only end their earthly existence permanently, but they affect the lives of those who loved and cared for them for the rest of their lives. Or, as I’ve heard it said, “suicide is a permanent solution, to a temporary problem(s),” but in reality, it only creates more problems for those they leave behind. Now I get it, people who take their own lives do so for many reasons, such as suffering from life-altering illnesses, and/or injuries that they’ve suffered through for years and will have done so for the rest of their natural lives. While others commit suicide due to mental illness, post-traumatic stress, depression, drug and alcohol addiction, or similar reasons.

Regardless, you’re not going to find any judgment, nor will you find me justifying a person’s choice(s). However, after I discuss Brad, I plan to shift the focus by pointing out ways every one of us can identify signs of someone who may be suicidal. I’ll also discuss ways all of us can intervene by providing resources that can help those who may be feeling suicidal, as well as those who care.

I hope people will support me in this endeavor, given I plan to donate the proceeds from the sale of this book to support combatting Veteran suicide and the American Legion’s “Be the One” campaign. https://www.legion.org/betheone

Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL

SFC, USA-Ret.

Todd@toddmckinley.com