Fort meade year in review 2013

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http://www.ftmeade.army.mil14 SOUNDOFF! December 19, 2013

2013 Year in Review

The following is a compilation of stories and photos that made news on Fort Meade through-

out the year of 2013. The garri-son welcomed a new commander, weathered government furloughs and a shutdown, and celebrated the Fourth of July on the third. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held for the Army Wellness Center, Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic and Fort Meade USO-Metro Center as new construction projects began.

2013 Year in Review

Photo by nate Pesce

A dramatic fireworks display lights the sky for more than 30 minutes on July 3, drawing oohs and ahhs from the thousands of visitors at McGlachlin Parade Field during the Budweiser-Fort Meade Red, White and Blue Celebration.

Photo by sarah Pastrana

1st Lt. Joanna Sampson humors her 2-year-old daughter, Zoe, who wanted to switch her pink headband for her mother’s hat. Before deploying to Kuwait with the 48th Combat Support Hospital, Sampson attended a farewell lunch on March 9.

RIGHT: Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Service personnel, Anne Arundel County firefighters and Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center paramedics respond to a two-alarm fire on June 2 that destroyed two homes and damaged two others in the Potomac Place housing neighborhood.

Photo by air force tech sgt. david sPeicher

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil December 19, 2013 SOUNDOFF! 15

January 2013 Year in Review February

Photo by sPc. Paul b. Watts Jr.

Marines from the Cryptologic Support Battalion exit a CH-46 helicopter after landing Jan. 9 on McGlachlin Parade Field. Forty members of Company L met with members of Marine Helicopter Squadron One in Quantico, Va., during a training exercise earlier that day.

JANUARY• The Fort Meade Veterans Affairs Out-

patient Clinic opens Jan. 14 at 2479 5th St., adjacent to Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, and becomes the sixth community-based outpatient clinic throughout the state operated by the VA Maryland Health Care System.

• The new Fort Meade USO-Metro Cen-ter, officially opens on Jan. 15 at 8612 6th Armored Cavalry Road. The ceremony fea-tured Kasey Staniszewski, Miss Maryland USA, and David Otunga, a professional wrestler with WWE.

• The U.S. Army Field Band, the Defense

FEBRUARY• Retired Lt. Col. Alfred Shehab is

awarded the French Legion of Honor (Che-valier) on Feb. 13 at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. The 93-year-old member of the Fort Meade community was awarded the medal for his role in liberating France during World War II.

• Army and Picerne Military Housing (later Corvias Military Living) officials break ground on Feb. 20 for the Reece Crossings garden-style apartment complex for junior-enlisted single service members at Mapes Road and Cooper Avenue.

• Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center celebrates the opening of its new Multi-Service Clinic on Feb. 25.

Photo by marv lynchard

The U.S. Army Field Band leads more than 100 elements of the Presidential Inaugural Parade that followed the Obamas and Bidens down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House on Jan. 21.

LEFT: Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center officials cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the facility’s new Multi-Service Clinic on Feb. 25. The clinic expanded several of Kimbrough’s services including gastroenterology; hand and upper extremities; chronic pain management; and podiatry.

Information Systems Agency and the 200th Military Police Command provide support to the 57th presidential inauguration on Jan. 21. The Field Band led more than 100 elements of the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.

• The Defense Information School breaks ground Jan. 23 for a new expansion project that will add an additional 100,000 square feet to the facility.

• The Asymmetric Warfare Group breaks ground Jan. 29 on a $31 million, three-build-ing complex that will feature a headquarters facility, visitor control center, and a vehicle maintenance and motor pool.

Photo by sgt. Walter reeves

Two Meade High School students comfort each other during the school’s memorial service and candlelight vigil on Jan. 10. Grief and crisis counseling were provided to students after the deaths of five students and five recent graduates during the past two years.

Photo by Nate Pesce


March 2013 Year in Review April

MARCH• A farewell luncheon is held March

9 for 180 Reservists of the 48th Combat Support Hospital deploying to Kuwait for a nine-month assignment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

• The Defense Information School holds its inaugural induction ceremony for the DINFOS Alumni Hall of Fame on March 14. The seven inductees included columnist Clarence Page and author John Roswell Camp.

• Fort Meade’s new VA Outpatient Clinic

opens during an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 25 that included Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and VA Maryland Health Care System Director Dennis Smith. The clinic will serve more than 80,000 veterans in Anne Arundel and Howard counties.

APRIL• The newly renovated Youth Sports

complex opens April 12 for the spring sports season after three years of construction.

• Several Fort Meade service members and spouses join first lady Michelle Obama at Gov. Martin O’Malley’s signing of the Veterans Full Employment Act of 2013 in Annapolis on April 17.

• Fort Meade’s SKIES Dance Team wins first place in its category at the SPIRIT

Unlimited Cheer and Dance Competition at the University of Maryland on April 20.

• Construction begins on the Express, the new Army and Air Force Exchange Service gas station and mini mart to be located on the former softball field on Mapes Road near the Route 32 gate.

Photo by Nicole MartyN

Staff Sgt. E. James Omelina (right) gives instructions to (from left) Victoria Figueroa, 12, of Springfield, Va.; Alexis Edwards, 12, of Crofton; Carlos Vargas, 13, of Pasadena; and Eloy Flores, 12, of Bolling Air Force Base during the Fort Meade USO’s Operation Basic Boot Camp on April 20.

Photo by Nate Pesce

Patricia Jackson, acting coordinator and financial coordinator of Fort Meade’s Survivor Outreach Services program, hugs Odessa Banks-Griffin (right) and Peggy Pergerson during the Gold Star Wives Tea on April 6. SOS sponsored the social event for the spouses of fallen service members that was held in observance of Gold Star Wives Day on April 5.

Photo by staff sgt. seaN K. harP

Then-Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein maneuvers an excavator as crews demolish the former Bachelor Officer Quarters off Cooper Avenue on April 24. The demolition makes way for the construction of Corvias Military Living’s Reece Crossings, a garden-style apartment complex for junior-enlisted single service members.

Photo by JeN ryNda

Children race to find Easter eggs at the Youth Center during the garrison’s annual Easter egg hunt on March 30.


May 2013 Year in Review June

Photo by Noah scialoM

Sheena Luaehu performs a traditional Tahitian dance with Soldiers at Fort Meade’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Observance on May 9 at McGill Training Center.

Photo by MoNica herNdoN

Meade High School graduate Shovonte Bowen (center) cheers after turning her tassel during graduation on June 7 at the Prince George’s County Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro.

Miss Maryland Joanna Guy, 21, listens as fifth-grader Jake Neslony introduces her to a class at Pershing Hill Elementary on June 7.

Photo by Nate Pesce

Photo by Noah scialoM

Retiring Police Chief Charles McGee laughs during his retirement luncheon on June 28. McGee retired after eight years as Fort Meade’s police chief and seven years as the deputy director of the Directorate of Emergency Services.

MAY• Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Cen-

ter opens a satellite refill pharmacy at the facility on May 1. The refill phar-macy cuts wait time down from 40 minutes to 10.

• Sixteen members of Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center’s surgical team undergo three days of extensive training in patient safety from May 1-3.

• The InterContinental Hotel Group officially takes ownership of the post’s lodging facilities on May 1, with plans to begin construction on a Candlewood Suites to replace the current lodging.

• The children’s and adolescent col-lection at the Medal of Honor Memo-rial Library is relocated to Kuhn Hall in anticipation of the opening of Fort Meade’s new Army Wellness Center. The library at Kuhn Hall is now the Post Annex Library.

• Ken Niumatalolo, head coach of the U.S. Naval Academy’s football team, is the guest speaker for the garrison’s Asian American Pacific Islander Heri-tage Month Observance on May 9.

• Garrison organizations prepare for worst-case scenarios in two full-scale exercises on May 14 and 15, testing the responses to a natural disaster and an active-shooter situation.

• More than 45 military and civic organizations display their flags dur-ing the installation’s Memorial Day Remembrance and 27th Annual Mass-

ing of the Colors on May 19.• The newly renovated Club Meade,

closed since January, celebrates its grand opening on May 31.

JUNE• More than 425 garrison employ-

ees receive letters informing them of proposed administrative furloughs to begin July 8. They continued through mid-August.

• Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services responds June 2 to a two-alarm

fire — the result of a lightening strike to the roof of one home — that destroys two homes and damages two others in the Potomac Place neighborhood. Five families are evacuated.

• A farewell luncheon is held for Audrey Rothstein, wife of then-Garri-son Commander Col. Edward C. Roth-stein, on June 4.

• The Freedom Inn wins second place in the civilian large-garrison category of the 2013 Philip A. Connelly food service

competition.• Fort Meade congregations donate

more than $11,000 on June 16 to benefit Oklahoma tornado victims.

• Defense Information Systems Agen-cy Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Frederick A. Henry presents on June 26 the 2012 DISA Honorary Award for Outstand-ing External Contributor of the Year to Fort Meade Fire Chief E.J. Rouvet and the Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services.


July 2013 Year in Review August

Photo by Nate Pesce

Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley stands at attention after accepting the reigns of leadership during his change-of-command ceremony held Aug. 8 at McGlachlin Parade Field. Foley assumed command from Col. Edward C. Rothstein, who served as garrison commander for two years.

BELOW: An eight-horse Clydesdale team, complete with costumed drivers and the Budweiser Clydesdale mascot, stands ready on McGlachlin Parade Field during the Budweiser-Fort Meade Red, White and Blue Celebration on July 3.

Keith Broughan, 3, examines a helicopter

during the 30th annual

National Night Out on Aug. 6 at McGlachlin Parade Field.

The event featured

such popular attractions

as inflatable obstacle

courses, pony rides, laser tag

and a rock-climbing wall.

Photo by

Noah scialom

Photo by Nate Pesce

Sgt. 1st Class April Boucher, lead vocalist of The Volunteers, an ensemble of the U.S. Army Field Band, hits a high note during the Field Band’s Summer Concert Series finale on Aug. 24 featuring the “1812 Overture.”

JULY• Fort Meade celebrates the Fourth of

July on July 3 with the Red, White and Blue Celebration at McGlachlin Parade Field. The festivities — sponsored by Budweiser — drew more than 10,000 people and featured country music and jazz, race cars, fireworks, a bar-becue cook-off, and an eight-horse team of Clydesdale horses.

• Air Force Col. Kevin Dixon assumes command of the 70th Intelligence, Surveil-lance and Reconnaissance Wing during a ceremony on July 10.

• Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services responds July 16 to a two-alarm fire at a three-story apartment building in nearby Maryland City and rescue two adults and an infant.

• Navy Capt. Donald E. Elam assumes command of Navy Information Operations Command Maryland during a ceremony July 26. Outgoing Commander Navy Capt. Timo-thy J. White was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) and is now deputy chief of Tai-lored Access Operations, S32, at the National Security Agency.

AUGUST• A Spanish-speaking Christian service is

offered at Cavalry Chapel beginning Aug. 1.• The installation celebrates the 30th annual

National Night Out on Aug. 6 at McGlachlin Parade Field. More than 4,000 people attended the event, which featured food, games, music and demonstrations by local fire departments and law enforcement agencies.

• Col. Brian P. Foley assumes command of Fort Meade during his change of command ceremony Aug. 8 at McGlachlin Parade Field. Foley replaced Col. Edward C. Rothstein, who officially retires on Feb. 28, 2014 after 30 years of service.

• Pfc. Bradley Manning is sentenced to 35

Photo by Noah scialom

years confinement on Aug. 21, bringing to a close the court-martial proceeding on Fort Meade that began in December 2011.

• Col. John P. Petkosek takes command of the Asymmetric Warfare Group during a cer-emony on Aug. 22 from Col. Patrick J. Mah-aney Jr., who is now serving as a senior Army Fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations.

• Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bailey takes com-mand of First Army Division East on Aug. 26 from Maj. Gen. Kevin R. Wendel, who ended his 30-month tour with Division East.

• IndyCar driver Oriol Servia visits service members on Aug. 28 at the USO-Metro Center at Fort Meade. Servia, driver of the National Guard IndyCar, signed autographs, gave away tickets to the Baltimore Grand Prix, and displayed his car.


September 2013 Year in Review October

Photo by steve ruark

Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley addresses runners at McGlachlin Parade Field following the Run of Remembrance on Sept. 11. More than 2,000 service members and civilians participated in the three-mile run through the installation on the 12th anniversary of 9/11.

BELOW: Quinntin Roach, 9, weaves through cones under the supervision of “celebrity trainer” Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III during the NFL’s “Salute to Play 60” event on Sept. 24 at Joint Base Andrews. Quinntin was among the 40 Fort Meade youngsters who participated in the event.


Jennifer Trotter and Derrick Brooks from the Washington, D.C.-based Salsa with Silvia demonstrate traditional salsa moves during the installation’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month Observance held Sept. 25 at McGill Training Center.


(Left to right) Col. Danny B.N. Jaghab, commander of U.S. Army Medical Department Activity, Fort Meade, and Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center; Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin; Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski; Maj. Gen. Dean G. Sienko, commanding general, U.S. Army Public Health Command; Rep. John Sarbanes; and Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley cut the ribbon to officially open Fort Meade’s new Army Wellness Center on Sept. 16.

SEPTEMBER• The Army Wellness Center officially

opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, and Rep. John Sarbanes, on Sept. 16 at 4418 Llewellyn Ave. The facility offers free, holistic health services to help service members, their family members, retirees and DoD civilians build and sustain a healthy lifestyle.

• Barracks for Marine and Coast Guard students at the Defense Informa-tion School officially open at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 27.

OCTOBER• The federal government shuts down

at Fort Meade on Oct. 1 and more than half of the garrison’s employees are furloughed. Some services reduce operations or close. All garrison civilian employees returned to work Oct. 8.

• Officials break ground on Oct. 3 for the Candlewood Suites hotel, which is being constructed near McGlachlin Parade Field. The 243-room hotel is expected to be completed in December 2015 as part of the Privatization of Army Lodging program.

• Manor View Elementary School offers Mandarin as a second language

as part of the school’s designation in October as an International Baccalaure-ate World School.

• Joseph Sanders, a material expediter contractor for the Logistics Readiness Center, receives keys to his new house provided by Operation Homefront, an organization that awards mortgage-free homes to service members and veter-ans.

photo by brandon bieltz


November 2013 Year in Review December

Photo by Nate Pesce

Guest speaker Rabbi Sheftel M. Neuberger, president of Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, carries a new Torah under a wedding canopy in a dedication ceremony on Nov. 17 outside Argonne Hills Chapel Center. The handwritten scroll, which arrived from Israel on Oct. 25, was escorted into the Chapel Center and placed inside the ark in the Jewish worship room.

Photo by Nate Pesce

E. Keith Colston, administrative director of the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs and of Tuscarora and Lumbee native ancestry, performs a Northern traditional dance in full regalia during his presentation for Fort Meade’s annual Native American Heritage Month Observance on Nov. 20 at the Post Theater.

NOVEMBER• The installation hosts its annual Veter-

ans Day observance on Nov. 7 at the Post Museum. Speaker Richard Hagan, Fort Meade’s re-enactor of Gen. George G. Meade and a Vietnam veteran, recalled his youth on Fort Meade.

• A former Child, Youth and School Ser-vices employee, Anthony Dennis Williams II, is arrested Nov. 12 on charges of sexually abusing a minor.

• Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley joins members of the Fort Meade Community Covenant Council at BWI Marshall Airport to sign the Communi-ty Covenant on Nov. 13. The document

Santa Claus is the guest conductor at

“Sound The Bells: A Holiday Celebration”

presented by the U.S. Army Field Band on

Dec. 4 at Meade High School. More than 800

people attended the 90-minute concert,

which featured The Concert Band,

Soldiers’ Chorus and The Volunteers.

Photo by Nate Pesce

pledges government and business leaders to develop relationships aimed at supporting Fort Meade.

• Two Fort Meade Soldiers are welcomed into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club at the Military District of Washington during a ceremony on Nov. 14 at the Post Theater. Master Sgt. Erica Lehmkuhl of First Army Division East was presented with the Mili-tary Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

• Brig. Gen. Alan Stotle takes command of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command dur-ing a change-of-command ceremony on Nov. 17.

• Navy leaders officially open the new Navy Fleet and Family Support Center at 2212 Chisholm Ave. on Nov. 22.

DECEMBER• Fort Meade residents celebrate the holi-

days during “Tis the Season,” sponsored by Corvias Military Living on Dec. 7 at Potomac Place. The free event featured train rides, horses, free photos with Santa, crafts, food and music.

• A nameplate for Spc. Hilda I. Clay-ton, who was assigned to the 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) before her death in Afghanistan in July, is unveiled at the Defense Information Schools’ Wall of Heroes on Dec. 13. Clayton was 22 when she was killed.

RIGHT: Families gather together with lit candles at McGlachlin Parade Field during the garrison’s annual tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 13. The 25-year tradition is sponsored by the Religious Services Office and featured holiday music, hot chocolate and a surprise visit from Santa Claus.

Photo by Nate Pesce


2013 Year in Review — Sports

photo by nate pesce

Frank Medina, dressed as “Batman,” carries his 4-year-old son Acedylan, who is dressed as the superhero’s sidekick “Robin,” during the Ghosts, Ghouls and Goblins 5K Run and Fun Walk on Oct. 16 at the Pavilion. The annual Run Series featured seven runs throughout the year.

Fort Meade’s 2013 intramural champions

Basketball

Division I: Surface Force Logistics Center

Division II: 741st Military Intelligence Battalion

Volleyball

94th Intelligence Squadron

Softball

Division I: Navy Information Operations Command Maryland

Division II: 7th Intelligence Squadron

Football

Division I: 704th Military Intelligence Brigade

Division II: 10th Fleet

RIGHT: Drake Smith, 4, of the Fort Meade Cougars wrestling team, shakes hands with opponent Kelly Doney after their match Feb. 17 at Meade High School. The end-of-the-year tournament wrapped up Child, Youth and School Services’ inaugural wrestling season.

photo by nate pesce

photo by steve ruark

Baltimore Oriole Tommy Hunter, retired Col. Douglas Dillard, retired Col. Bert Rice, Oriole Brian Matusz, the Oriole Bird, retired Sgt. Maj. Ray Moran, Oriole Troy Patton, then-Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and Oriole T.J. McFarland pose for a photo during Military Appreciation Day on June 14 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Rothstein and the three retired Soldiers simultaneously threw out the first pitch.



photo by noah scialom

Staff Sgt. Billy Ward of the 902nd Military Intelligence Group joins Debrah Miceli, driver of the MADUSA monster truck, in cheering with the crowd during Monster Jam in Baltimore on June 8 at M&T Bank Stadium. Ward was honored following Miceli’s freestyle competition.


Thomas Moore of the 70th Operations Support Squadron reacts after a kill in the intramural volleyball championship. The 94th swept the 70th Operations Support Squadron 25-22, 25-16 in the finals.

RIGHT: The Navy team celebrates its 33-8 victory following the Army-Navy game on Dec. 5 at Mullins Field. The win was Navy’s first victory in four years.

photo by nate pesce

photo by nate pesce

Nick Collington of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade runs down field during an intramural football game against Navy Information Operations Command Maryland on Oct. 8 at Mullins Field. The 704th completed an undefeated season with the Division I championship, while 10th Fleet won the Division II title.




Alonzo Toms of the 32nd Military Intelligence Squadron fights through 741st MI defenders during the Division II intramural basketball championship on March 21 at Murphy Field House. The 741st won the Division II post championship. Surface Force Logistics Center won its second consecutive title in Division I.


Nine-year-old Aiden Peters and 10-year-old Jakob Henchell, who has cerebral palsy, wait at the starting line of the Patriot Pride 5K on May 18 outside Murphy Field House. Through the Maryland Chapter of Ainsely’s Angels, Aiden was able to push Jakob throughout the race. They finished at 32:45.

BELOW: Youngsters warm up before their intramural basketball game on Jan. 26 at the Youth Center. The Child, Youth and School Services’ Youth Sports program featured three intramural age groups.

photo by nate pesce

photo by staff sgt. dillon white

Members of Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, Bravo Company celebrate at McGlachlin Parade Field after winning the National Security Agency’s Armed Forces Week Sports Day championship on May 1, defeating the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing and Navy Information Operations Command Maryland.



photo by brandon bieltz

The Meade High School football team faces off against the Southern Bulldogs in the driving rain on Oct. 11. The Mustangs won their second consecutive Class 4A East Region title this season.

BELOW: Quarterback Ian Fowler of the Fort Meade Cougars 11U team prepares to throw a pass during a practice on Aug. 15 at the Youth Sports Complex. The 11U and 70-pound football teams have both advanced to the championships in their divisions this season. The 11U team won its division and qualified for the state tournament.

photo by nate pesce


Ariya Turner, 8, practices a handstand at the cheernastics mini camp offered by Fort Meade’s SKIES program on July 25 at the Youth Center. The camp included a series of drills to practice basic cheernastics moves including handstands, lunges, leg extensions, back bends and handsprings.

BELOW: Mike Hopkins of the 741st Military Intelligence Battalion softball team hits during an intramural game on July 22 at Donahue Field. Navy Operations Information Command Maryland won the Division I title, while the 7th Intelligence Squadron were champions of Division II.

photo by nate pesce

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Fort meade year in review 2013