Assemblyman Brian Maher returned home Saturday, Sept. 5, after a nine-month military deployment, arriving at Stewart International Airport in Newburgh.

Maher, a Republican-Conservative from Walden who represents New York’s 101st Assembly District, serves in the Navy Reserve as a petty officer second class and logistics specialist. He was mobilized last fall in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and spent time in Bahrain and Djibouti before returning to the Hudson Valley.

“I want to say thank you to my constituents for your support, for me and my family, throughout this deployment,” Maher said. “Thank you to all those who reached out or kept me and my family in your prayers. It meant a great deal to us.”

Maher arrived at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti in December 2025 and worked in the Supply Department as part of a joint force supporting tenant commands throughout the Horn of Africa and Middle East.

Camp Lemonnier is located in Djibouti near the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The base serves as a major U.S. military installation in the region.

As Operation Epic Fury began in late February, Maher said Camp Lemonnier became a key logistical and operational staging point for the southern theater. His unit supported the movement of fuel, weapons and theater airlift as the conflict continued.

Maher said his unit also faced the threat of one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles from Iran and Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.

Despite being deployed overseas, Maher remained involved in his legislative responsibilities. His district office remained fully staffed and operational, continuing to assist constituents, attend community events and advocate for legislative priorities.

Maher said he personally remained in contact with fellow Assembly and Senate members during the state budget process and throughout the legislative session, despite a seven-hour time difference.

“I took time during my deployment to personally speak to fellow Assembly members and Senate colleagues during the budget and throughout the legislative session,” Maher wrote in a letter to constituents announcing his return. “I continued to represent you and did my very best to honor both of the oaths of service I swore to uphold.”

Maher credited his staff, including Chief of Staff and spokeswoman Meghan Hurlburt and Director of Operations Kristin Mulligan, for keeping the district operation running during his absence.

“While I was away, I knew our district was in the best possible hands,” Maher said. “I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Meghan Hurlburt, my chief of staff and spokeswoman, Kristin Mulligan, my director of operations, and our entire dedicated staff in Albany and within the district.”

Maher said his staff continued the office’s tradition of constituent service while he was deployed.

“Due to this commitment to service, our office never missed a beat in advocating for you,” he wrote.

Before leaving Djibouti, Maher received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device, among other awards and commendations.

He also was recognized for his work with the host-nation community and allied forces in the region. Maher was appointed to a leadership role focused on improving relations with allied partners and Djibouti. He organized community service projects and cultural exchanges involving coalition forces and members of the host nation.

Maher enlisted in the Navy Reserve in July 2018. During his seven years of service, he has risen to the rank of petty officer second class, or E-5.

He has served exclusively with expeditionary warfare units, including a cargo unit based in Lakehurst, New Jersey, and logistical support units attached to Navy SEALs and Naval Special Warfare units in Little Creek, Virginia.

With his deployment complete, Maher said he is eager to return to his full-time legislative responsibilities.

“Now that I have returned home, I am incredibly eager to fully resume my responsibilities and jump back into the work we started together,” he said. “My commitment to the 101st Assembly District remains unwavering. I am ready to continue standing up and fighting for the issues that matter most to our families, businesses and communities.”

Maher said his military experience also gave him a renewed perspective on working across differences.

“Our service members come from different walks of life, different socioeconomic backgrounds, are of different races and come from all corners of America,” he said. “We put any differences aside to accomplish the mission at hand and to support one another. Our political system can learn from this example.”

Maher said he intends to bring that spirit of cooperation back to Albany.

“In honor of all of our service members, at home and around the world, I will attack my work in Albany with this same dedication and camaraderie,” he said. “I will work with members of both parties on issues that profoundly impact our communities. I will focus on the positive differences we can make together, rather than simply casting blame.”

In his letter to constituents, Maher described serving both his district and country as “the privilege of my life.”

“I am blessed to be back in the greatest country in the world,” he wrote. “It is good to be home.”