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The Office of Governor Wes Moore announced Thursday that Brigadier General Janeen Birckhead was sworn in as the 31st Adjutant General of Maryland. Brigadier Birckhead is responsible for the combat readiness of 4,600 soldiers and 1,500 combat platforms.
She also serves as deputy commanding general of reserve affairs for the Army War College in Pennsylvania. She maintains 45 installations in Maryland and oversees a budget of $182 million. After January 6th, she took on the added responsibility of task force commander for over 14,000 soldiers guarding the U.S. Capitol.
“Brigadier General Birckhead brings her own story of distinction and leadership to state government,” said Gov. Moore in a statement. “She has taken on senior roles in our state not because she had to, but because she knows her presence makes our state better and stronger. She has dedicated her life to serving and protecting others and I look forward to watching her continue that work in this administration as Adjutant General.”
Prior, Brig. Gen. Birckhead was appointed the Governor’s lead for the COVID-19 Maryland Equity Task Force. Her leadership enabled the Maryland Army National Guard to establish Mobile Vaccination Support Teams, delivering nearly 5,000 shots per week within the first two weeks of January 2021.
Brigadier General Birckhead’s leadership helped underserved communities throughout Maryland gain access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Her leadership of the Maryland Army 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.
In addition, Brig. Gen. Birckhead oversaw the successful deployment of the 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade to Afghanistan, ensuring her soldiers passed the most rigorous training standards.
“Adjutant General Birckhead embodies the values of courage, determination, empathy, and respect,” said Lt. Gov. Miller. “She has gone above and beyond the duties of every job she’s had, whether it’s saving lives by ensuring the equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine or leading the Maryland National Guard’s first all-female command team. Her determination and commitment to making our state better for the people it serves has done exactly that.”