Maryland National Guard supports 60th Presidential Inauguration
By Maj. Benjamin Hughes
WASHINGTON – Approximately 380 members of the Maryland National Guard supported the 60th Presidential Inauguration as part of a large interagency presence, which ensured the peaceful transition of power on January 20, 2025.
The Maryland Soldiers and Airmen joined about 7,800 National Guard members from approximately 4 states, territories, and the District of Columbia who served in support of the Secret Service, U.S. Capitol, and Metropolitan Police Department for the swearing-in of President Donald Trump.
The Maryland National Guard has a long history of supporting presidential inaugurations, usually outside the United States Capitol building. Officials modified plans on Friday beforehand due to the extremely cold temperatures, and the ceremony took place inside the Capitol Rotunda with a follow-on event at the Capital One Arena.
Most of the Maryland Guard members were assigned to Team Access, responsible for supporting Secret Service entry control points around the arena after the mission shifted. Some Maryland Soldiers were also positioned on the motorcade route.
“The Maryland National Guard provided most of the military support utilized for the largest singular event of the week, which was the new President’s post-Inauguration celebration at the arena,” said Maryland Army National Guard Lt. Col. Benjamin Posil, commander for Team Access, which oversaw a joint element of 580 Guard members from D.C. and Maryland. “I am proud of the Soldiers and Airmen who provided fantastic support throughout the entire process despite significant changes to the mission that we had to overcome.”
Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, Army Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, senior enlisted advisor to the CNGB, and Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, director of the Army National Guard, were briefed on the Team Access mission changes by Posil and Maryland Army National Guard Maj. Peter Leach, operations officer with the 581st Troop Command, the day before the historic event.
National Guard Bureau leadership lauded the Maryland National Guard team for handling all the changes.
“It’s impressive,” Stubbs said. “Your professionalism is evident. Your dedication is admirable. I’m proud of you, the whole nation is proud of you.”
Ten Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers from the 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment led the Joint Information Center, which handled all the National Guard media engagements, photos, video, articles, and social media management before, during, and after the Inauguration.
The rest of the Maryland Soldiers on the Inauguration mission were from the 581st Troop Command, 29th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, 729th Quartermaster Company, Headquarters & Headquarters Company 1297th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1729th Support Maintenance Company, 1229th Transportation Company, and the 911th Field Feeding Platoon. There were also approximately 50 Airmen from the 175th Wing who integrated with the Maryland Soldiers.
Maryland Air National Guard Master Sgt. Erica Brown, command support staff assigned to Joint Force Headquarters, who manned a Metro station entry control point at the arena, said she was “grateful for the opportunity to work” with multiple law enforcement agencies and National Guard members from across the county.
“It was amazing to see so many different organizations coming together to accomplish the same mission,” said Brown.
