Md. Army Guard commander confirmed to lead the Maryland Military Department

By Capt. Ben Hughes

Birckhead currently serves as the commander of the Maryland Army National Guard, a position she has held since May 2018. She is responsible for the combat readiness of approximately 4,600 Soldiers and 45 installations, while maintaining an annual budget of $182 million.

“As Maryland’s adjutant general, I pledge to serve the people of Maryland with unwavering dedication,” said Birckhead. “I believe in the importance of the National Guard’s mission and above all in the selfless service of our Soldiers, Airmen, federal and state civilian employees and our volunteers, who represent the best of our great state.”

Birckhead, who is also deputy commandant for reserve affairs at the U.S. Army War College, led 14,000 National Guard troops from across the nation providing security for the Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol after the attacks of Jan. 6, 2021. Shortly afterwards, she was appointed as the governor’s lead for Maryland’s Vaccine Equity Task Force, which was responsible for the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine to underserved and hard-to-reach communities statewide. 

In her civilian career, Birckhead is a senior advisor in the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, in the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Birckhead graduated magna cum laude from Hampton University on an Army ROTC scholarship. Her undergraduate degree is in political science. She also holds two master’s degrees – a masters in general administration from the University of Maryland University College and a masters in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. 

Birckhead’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, NATO Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. As the newly appointed commander of the Maryland National Guard, she will be the only Black woman currently leading a state military across the nation.

“The adjutant general is the leader of Maryland’s military, and I am very confident in Janeen’s ability to do just that – lead,” said Gov. Moore during the press conference. “Her record proves her readiness to serve at the highest-ranking military position in the state of Maryland.”

Birckhead will replace Maj. Gen. Timothy E. Gowen, who is retiring later this month, as adjutant general of Maryland during a change of command ceremony to be scheduled in May. 

Gowen, who has served in the military for more than 36 years, was appointed as adjutant general of Maryland by former Gov. Larry Hogan in 2019. Prior to that, he was the Army National Guard Deputy Commanding General of the Army Futures Command. Gowen was employed in a civilian capacity as an aerospace engineer at Patuxent River Naval Air Station for 25 years when he was named assistant adjutant general of the Maryland Army National Guard in 2015. 

As adjutant general, Gowen led the Maryland National Guard response during the Covid-19 pandemic as Soldiers and Airmen distributed medical supplies and equipment, set up testing sites, managed mass vaccinations sites, assisted at hospitals and skills nursing facilities, and distributed food assistance to community members in need. He also led the Maryland Military Department during protests across the state in 2020 and during the Maryland National Guard’s deployment to the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

The Maryland Military Department is composed of the Maryland Army and Air National Guard, and the Maryland Defense Force. Soldiers and Airmen of the Maryland National Guard support domestic operations such as responses to floods, fires, civil unrest, and cyber attacks as well as federal missions, including overseas deployments. The Maryland Military Department consists of nearly 7,000 National Guard members, Defense Force volunteers, and civilian employees, contributing nearly $300 million annually to Maryland’s economy. 

“I have faith in the ability of our Military Department to accomplish the vital objectives that lie before us, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to tackle what’s ahead,” said Birckhead. “We stand ready to serve the great citizens of Maryland and our nation.”