COL Medaglia is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended Temple University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree and commission in May 1999. After graduation she attended the Aviation Officer Basic Course and Flight School at Fort Rucker, AL.

Her next assignment after completion of flight school and qualification in the UH60 Black Hawk helicopter, was with the 1st Cavalry Division where she served as a platoon leader of Alpha Company, 2-227th Aviation Regiment. After her platoon time, she served on the Battalion staff and deployed to Iraq serving as the Battalion Assistant S3 and lead Air Assault planner in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Upon redeployment and completion of the Aviation Career Course, she moved to Katterbach, Germany where she joined the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. In December 2006, she transferred from the Brigade S3 shop to the Storm Rider Battalion and assumed Command of Charlie Company, 3-158th Aviation Regiment. As a Storm Rider, COL Medaglia served as an Air Assault Company Commander for 18 months, 12 of which supported Operation Iraqi Freedom, executing missions in the Baghdad Area of Operations.

COL Medaglia transferred from the Aviation branch to the Acquisition Corps in 2009 and served as a Contract Specialist at Fort Monmouth, NJ, following the Acquisition Officer Basic Course. In 2010, COL Medaglia earned her master’s degree in Business Administration from Norwich University and subsequently moved to Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, as the Assistant Product Manager for the Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System. After her assignment at Aberdeen, she moved back to Philadelphia to serve as the Chief of Flight Operations supporting the Defense Contract Management Agency, located at the Boeing Company. While there, she obtained her second aircraft qualification in the CH-47F Chinook. COL Medaglia led the Army’s CH-47F Helicopter Product Office as the Product Manager from June 2017- June 2020, producing and subsequently fielding aircraft to the Army’s Combat Aviation Brigades. Following command, she attended Air War College, Air University, earning a master’s degree in Strategic Studies. She was nominated and selected to serve as the Executive Officer to the Principal Military Deputy, ASA(ALT), in Washington D.C., at the Pentagon. COL Medaglia became the Project Manager for the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Project Office within the Program Executive Office, Aviation in September 2022.

COL Medaglia’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Air Medal (2nd Award), the Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC) and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.

Danielle and her husband have three children.