{"id":6891,"date":"2021-10-17T21:14:57","date_gmt":"2021-10-17T21:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/?p=6891"},"modified":"2022-10-13T20:30:32","modified_gmt":"2022-10-13T20:30:32","slug":"retired-maj-gen-linda-singhs-portrait-unveiling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/2021\/10\/17\/retired-maj-gen-linda-singhs-portrait-unveiling\/","title":{"rendered":"Retired Maj. Gen. Linda Singh’s Portrait Unveiling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Article by Sgt. 1st Class Thaddeus Harrington, Maryland National Guard State Public Affairs Office<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos by Airman Ali Huettner, 175th Wing Public Affairs; Tech. Sgt. Enjoli Saunders, Maryland National Guard State Public Affairs Office<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor Larry Hogan announced that the Freedom Readiness Center in Sykesville, Maryland, will be officially renamed after retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Linda L. Singh, on Oct.16, 2021, at her official portrait unveiling ceremony. Singh, who was the first African American and the first woman to lead the Maryland National Guard as the 29th adjutant general, was surprised by the announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was not expecting this,\u201d said Singh, who served in the MDNG for 38 years. \u201cIt is an honor because this is as close to home as I can get. My home where I grew up is down the street\u2026 This is home ground for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hogan and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Timothy E. Gowen, the current adjutant general of Maryland, unveiled the commissioned portrait of Singh, which was painted by artist Laura Era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHsmWVUbur<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs it takes its place among her predecessors, General Singh\u2019s portrait is certain to stand out,\u201d said Hogan. \u201cShe made history the moment I appointed her as the first African American and the first woman to ever lead the Maryland National Guard. It is her incredible legacy of service, and the transformative things, that General Singh did with her command that truly sets her apart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singh was appointed by Hogan on January 21, 2015. In her role, Singh led over 5,500 soldiers and airmen under her command and over 1,000 full-time federal and state employees ready to respond in the event of state or national emergencies like civil unrest or natural disasters. During her tenure, Singh was integral in helping Maryland become one of the National Guard\u2019s cutting-edge leaders in cybersecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes we have to put it all on the line for people we believe in,\u201d said Singh. \u201cThe things that I believed in over my career, I knew because of leaders that came before me. When you believed in your people, you put it all on the line. If you have to duke it out in the ring, you\u2019re going to do that for your people. That truly what I founded my leadership as adjutant general on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hogan will introduce a proposal at the next meeting of the Board of Public Works to rename the newly constructed readiness center as a thank you from the state of Maryland for nearly four decades of service to the citizens of Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving this armory named after me, I was not expecting this\u2026 It is an honor, because this is as close to home as I can get,\u201d said Singh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the unveiling of retired Maj. Gen. Linda L. Singh\u2019s portrait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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