Snow Hill native Birckhead tapped by Gov. Wes Moore to lead Maryland's military

Keith Demko, Salisbury Daily Times
·3 min read

Gov. Wes Moore announced the nomination of Brig. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, a Snow Hill High School graduate. as Maryland’s next adjutant general. If confirmed by the Senate, Brig. Gen. Birckhead would become the only Black woman leading a state military in our nation.

“I am proud to nominate Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead to serve as Maryland’s next adjutant general. With her extensive knowledge and leadership experience within the Maryland Army National Guard, she will bring invaluable expertise to this role.” said Gov. Moore.

“The adjutant general is the leader of Maryland’s military and I am very confident in Janeen’s ability to do just that — lead. Her record proves her readiness to serve at the highest-ranking military position in the state of Maryland. I encourage the Senate to confirm Brig. Gen. Birckhead without delay.”

Birckhead embraced the new challenge at Wednesday's announcement.

Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, surrounded by Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, left, and Gov. Wes Moore, right, speaks at the announcement naming her Maryland's new adjutant general on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, surrounded by Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, left, and Gov. Wes Moore, right, speaks at the announcement naming her Maryland's new adjutant general on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

"As Maryland's adjutant general, I pledge to serve the people of Maryland with unwavering dedication. 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,” said Birckhead.

“I am committed to serving my fellow Marylanders and providing the Maryland National Guard with the leadership and service they deserve. On my watch, the Maryland National Guard will continue to provide relevant, responsive, and ready forces committed to service to all."

Serving at Biden inauguration, leading in fight against COVID-19

Birckhead is commander of the Maryland Army National Guard, responsible for the combat readiness of 4,600 soldiers and 1,500 combat platforms. She maintains 45 installations statewide and oversees an annual budget of $182 million.

She took on the added responsibility of Task Force commander for more than 14,000 soldiers guarding the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6 attack. Birckhead also serves as the deputy commanding general of reserve affairs for the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Gov. Larry Hogan tours Snow Hill High School on May 28, 2021. At left is principal Kim Purvis and right is Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead.
Gov. Larry Hogan tours Snow Hill High School on May 28, 2021. At left is principal Kim Purvis and right is Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead.

Birckhead, who once roamed the hallways of Snow Hill High School during her teenage years on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, was also selected as commander for more than 14,000 soldiers that were dispatched from throughout the country for the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Brig. Gen. Birckhead was appointed as the governor’s lead for the statewide COVID-19 Maryland Equity Task Force. She was able to pivot effectively at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to bring a force of more than 1,500 soldiers on duty in the early days of COVID.

In the second phase of COVID-19, she developed and integrated a planning team with the Maryland Department of Health for vaccine distribution. Her leadership enabled the Maryland National Guard to establish Mobile Vaccination Support Teams, delivering nearly 5,000 shots per week within the first two weeks of January 2021.

Birckhead's leadership helped underserved communities throughout Maryland, including on the Eastern Shore, gain access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Her leadership of the Maryland National Guard also established more than 11 mass vaccination sites. Her work on the Maryland Equity Task Force was the subject of an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.

MORE ON BIRCKHEAD: 'Always ready': Eastern Shore native leads National Guard Inauguration Day effort in D.C.

FIGHTING COVId-19 'Our Super Bowl': Mobile COVID vaccine units arrive on MD Shore, opening accessibility

In addition, Birckhead oversaw the successful deployment of the 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade to Afghanistan, ensuring her soldiers passed the most rigorous training standards.

She earned a B.A. in Political Science (summa cum laude) from Hampton University on an Army ROTC scholarship, and holds two master’s degrees — Master of General Administration from the University of Maryland University College and a master's in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Gov. Wes Moore taps Snow Hill's Birckhead to lead Maryland's military