Maryland Guard opens $45 million maintenance facility in Harford County
By. Maj. Benjamin Hughes
HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. – The Maryland Army National Guard officially opened its new Combined Support Maintenance Shop complex during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Governor Wes Moore at the Havre de Grace Military Reservation, May 15, 2026.
Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, commander of the Maryland National Guard, and Maryland Department of General Services Secretary Atif Chaudhry also spoke during the ceremony marking completion of the $45 million project constructed on an 11-acre parcel of the 75-acre reservation.
“This facility was built for the mechanics, machinists, and soldiers who make sure that when the Maryland Army National Guard is called, every vehicle starts and every weapon works,” said Gov. Moore. “Investing in this modern facility is what state partnership with our Guard looks like, and it is part of the broader commitment our administration made to the people who raised their hand to serve our state in uniform.”
“We live in a world of advanced technology and electrical systems, so we are grateful to the state and federal partners who ensured our soldiers have a modern facility that will keep our force always ready to respond to any mission that will arise,” said Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, adjutant general of Maryland. “The phenomenal team who works in this new maintenance facility will be the architects of victory.”
Groundbreaking for the new complex took place in 2022, in partnership with the Maryland Department of General Services, which oversaw contract administration and construction execution. The new maintenance complex expands Maryland’s maintenance and sustainment capabilities while improving safety and efficiency for the more than 60 full-time personnel assigned to the facility.
The new facilities include larger, climate-controlled maintenance bays capable of servicing oversized military vehicles, heated flooring, over-head cranes, and upgraded shop infrastructure to increase maintenance efficiency and reduce workplace hazards. It also includes a fully operational, large-capacity paint booth compliant with modern ventilation and air-quality standards. The facility is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification.
The site was initially the home to the Havre de Grace Racetrack, known nationally as “The Graw,” which operated until 1950 and attracted thousands of spectators and some of the most celebrated horses in American racing. When the racetrack closed after 38 years, the Maryland National Guard converted the property for military operations.