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

throughout the year of 2012. From the closing of the Courses and visits by high-profile legisla-tors and senior military leaders to historical storms and an award-winning talent show, it was indeed a year to remem-ber.

2012 Year in Review

2012 Year in Review

Photo by Pfc. Joshua R. Mckinney

Service members run down MacArthur Road during the Wellness and Remembrance Joint Service Run on Sept. 21. More than 2,400 service members attended the run in recognition of 9/11, POWS and MIAs, and to promote resiliency and wellness.

TOP RIGHT: Mercedes Drew sings “Movin’ On Up” during “Fort Meade’s Got Talent” on Sept. 9 at McGill Training Center. The annual production won first place in the Variety Entertainment and Talent Show category of the 2012 Army Festival of the Arts and Recreation Program.

RIGHT: Children participate in Fort Meade’s celebration of the Army’s 237th birthday at The Mall in Columbia on June 14.

Photo by noah scialoM

Photo by Jen Rynda

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January 2012 Year in Review February

photo by brian krista

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein (third from right) and former Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Smith (second from right) join Fort Meade Soldiers for Military Appreciation at the University of Maryland’s men’s basketball game at the Comcast Center in College Park on Feb. 21.

photo by brian krista

Spectators and competitors fill the room as two young fighters battle in the 2012 East Coast National Qualifier karate tournament held Feb. 11 at McGill Training Center. About 250 of the top Taekwondo students in the region attended the event.

JANUARY• Lt. Gen. Carroll F. Pollett transfers

directorship of the Defense Information System Agency to Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr. during a ceremony on Jan. 11.

• Col. Patrick J. Mahaney Jr., com-mander of the Asymmetric Warfare Group, breaks ground on an AWG indoor gun range behind the old World War I barracks on Rock Avenue on Jan. 18.

• Yolanda Clark is the new acting prin-cipal of Meade High School, taking over from Daryl Kennedy, who left to serve as executive director of principal support for the Baltimore City Public Schools.

• Radio talk-show host Joe Madison, known as the “Black Eagle,” is the guest speaker for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. observance on Jan. 12.

• The Anne Arundel County Board of Education votes Jan. 18 to approve the construction of 12 additional classrooms at Meade High School.

• Defense Information School launches its first Public Affairs Course for Interna-tional Students on Jan. 23.

• Renovations to the Fort Meade Express, formerly the Shoppette, are com-pleted on Jan. 28.

FEBRUARY• Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center

completes renovations to its patient ser-vice center and medical laboratory, and addition of new operating rooms and medical teams to accommodate the nearly 1,500 patients who use the facility daily.

• Bettina Pickett, wife of Navy Lt. Aaron Pickett, delivers a baby girl in her Potomac Place home on Feb. 7 with the help of her neighbor, Dori Welsch.

• The 780th Military Intelligence Bri-gade and Meade Heights Elementary School sign on Feb. 14 a formal agree-ment establishing a partnership in educa-tion.

• Col. Jonathan Sweet, commander of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade, breaks ground Feb. 21 on the brigade’s new headquarters, operation center and training facility.

• Pfc. Bradley E. Manning is arraigned Feb. 23 at Fort Meade on 22 charges, including wrongfully releasing intelli-gence, theft of records and aiding the enemy.

• JoAnne Martin, co-founder of the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum in Baltimore, is the guest speaker for the post’s Black History Month observance on Feb. 23.

• Meagan Chesser, 17, a senior at Meade High School, wins first place in the high school essay category of the State of Maryland International Reading Association Council’s statewide Young Authors Contest.

photo by sarah pastrana

A wax figure of Dr. Dorothy Height, a former president of the National Council of Negro Women, stands in the foyer of Club Meade as part of the installation’s annual observance of Black History Month on Feb. 23. The figurine was on loan from the National National Great Blacks In Wax Museum in Baltimore.

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March 2012 Year in Review April

MARCH• Garrison officials announce the sched-

uled closing of the Courses in May.• Maj. Savan Becker, a Space Systems offi-

cer and contractor at Fort Meade, is a finalist in Space Race 2012, a Facebook-hosted com-petition offering the winner the chance to

spend six weightless minutes 60 miles above Earth in a privately owned spacecraft.

• Twenty fifth-graders from Manor View Elementary School win silver medals during a mini-Olympic event hosted by first lady Michelle Obama on March 13 at American University.

• Master Sgt. Joshua E. Powell, an opera-tional advisor for the Asymmetic Warfare Group, is presented the Soldier Medal during a ceremony held March 23 at Fort Eutis, Va., for saving the life of a South African soldier during a training exercise in South Africa.

• Six longtime employees of the the Direc-torate of Human Resources are honored in a retirement luncheon on March 23 at Club Meade.

• Army Chief of Chaplains (Maj. Gen.) Donald L. Rutherford speaks at the post’s National Prayer Luncheon on March 28 at Club Meade.

APRIL• Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. begins

upgrades to the electric and gas lines in Heritage Park, a historic section of the installation that has the oldest infrastruc-ture within Fort Meade housing.

• More than 250 children attend the 13th annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 7 at the Youth Center. Two days later, several Fort Meade families participate in the 134th annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

• Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center unveils its technologically advanced surgi-cal center after a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 11.

• The 902nd Military Intelligence Group conducts a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 19 for its new headquarters and Army Counterintelligence Center complex.

• Halina Silber, a Holocaust survivor who was included on Schindler’s list, is the guest speaker at the post’s Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 19 at McGill Training Center.

• Col. Thomas A. Johnson Jr. assumes leadership of the 48th Combat Support Hospital from Col. Corinne M. Ritter on April 21.

Photo by Jen Rynda

Riley Bateman, 6, of Fort Meade, giggles while attempting to spin an oversized hula hoop during the installation’s annual Family Fun Day on April 28 outside McGill Training Center.

Carson Johns, 9, of Monarch Academy Glen Burnie harvests oysters at the Oyster Recovery Partnership display during Fort Meade Earth Day on April 17 at Burba Park.

Photo by Jen Rynda

Photo by noah scialom

Retired Sgt. Michael Kacer, who lost his arm in an RPG attack in Afghanistan in 2009, gives a high five of sorts to retired Sgt. Robbie Gaupp during the final selection held March 11 at Fort Meade for the Army team 2012 Warrior Games.

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May 2012 Year in Review June

Photo by Nate Pesce

Riley Wharton, 12, of Fort Meade Boy Scout Troop 377, carries an American flag to be placed among other worn or tattered flags during the troop’s flag retirement ceremony near the Fort Meade RV Park on June 14.

A procession of color guards participate in Fort Meade’s Memorial Day Remembrance and the 26th Annual Massing of the Colors at the Pavilion on May 6.

Photo by JeN RyNda

Photo by Noah scialom

Graduates line up to take their seats at Meade High School’s graduation ceremony held June 11 at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro.

MAY• The Directorate of Family and Morale,

Welfare and Recreation opens a revised jogging trail on May 1 after the closing of the East Campus, a trail around the former golf course.

• Gov. Martin O’Malley pays tribute to the military at the installation’s Memo-

rial Day Remembrance ceremony and 26th Annual Massing of the Colors on May 6 at the Pavilion.

• During the National Security Agency’s Armed Forces Week, five groups of service members compete in the annual Super Squad on Fort Meade on May 8.

• The installation’s 2012 Army Emer-gency Relief campaign raises $98,988 as the fundraising effort ends May 15, collecting 123.7 percent of its $80,000 goal.

• Ten World War II-era letters written to Fort Meade Soldiers are found on May 24 by Melwood employees in the wall frame of Bldg. 249 on Chisolm Avenue.

• The Directorate of Emergency Services unveils its new mobile command post nick-named “The Beast,” a self-contained com-munications center with cameras, satellites, computers and radios.

JUNE• Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F.

Chandler III meets June 7 with Soldiers and families during a tour of the post with his wife, Jeanne, and speaks at a town hall.

• Meade High’s first class of 49 graduating seniors in the Homeland Security Signature Program receive their diplomas on June 11.

• The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade welcomes Col. Jennifer G. Buckner as its new commander on June 15.

• Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman celebrate the Army’s 237th birthday in a cake-cutting ceremony at The Mall in Columbia on June 14.

• Lt. Col. Marion Bakalorz takes com-mand of Headquarters Command Battalion on June 22 from Col. Edmund Barrett.

• On June 29, a fierce storm called a derecho whips through Fort Meade with high winds and heavy rain, causing dam-age to property and leaving the installation without electricity.

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July 2012 Year in Review AugustJULY

• Chaplain (Col.) Carl Rau begins his tenure as the garrison chaplain on July 2, replacing Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Sid A. Taylor, who became deputy garrison chaplain.

• Col. Danny B. N. Jaghab takes com-mand on July 12 of the U.S. Army Medi-cal Activity, Fort Meade, and Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center from Col. Leon E. Moores.

• Lt. Col. Roseanne M. Bennett is named the garrison’s new staff judge advocate on July 15.

• The Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services is named the Department of the Army’s Small Fire Department of the Year on July 17.

• Col. James M. Howell III assumes command of U.S. Army Dental Activity during a ceremony on July 18 at Club Meade from Col. David B. Hembree.

• Col. Yvette Hopkins takes command of the 902nd Military Intelligence Group on July 20 from Col. Andrea L. Thomp-son.

• The 704th Military Intelligence Bri-gade welcomes its incoming commander, Col. Anthony R. Hale, in a ceremony on July 24 from Col. Karen H. Gibson.

AUGUST• Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington,

commanding general of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region/Military District of Washington, visits Fort Meade on Aug. 9. Linnington attended a lunch and meeting with garrison officials in addition to taking a windshield tour of the installation.

• Maryland photographer Greg Schaler uses Fort Meade service members as models

photo by Anthony CAstellAno

Fireworks brighten the sky over McGlachlin Parade Field at Fort Meade’s annual Fourth of July Celebration. An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 residents and visitors attended the event that featured music, carnival rides, games and novelty vendors.

BELOW: A convoy of emergency vehicles makes a grand entrance at Fort Meade’s 29th annual National Night Out held Aug. 7 on McGlachlin Parade Field. The free event featured law enforcement demonstrations, music, pony rides, laser tag, inflatables, a zip line and food.

Farmers march onstage during the Missoula Children’s Theatre camp’s production of “Jack and the Beanstalk” on July 28 at McGill Training Center. More than 50 Fort Meade youngsters participated in the play.

photo by nAte pesCe

for his photographs taken Aug. 15 for an art exhibition at Sarasota National Cemetery in Florida.

• Col. Michael R. Bell takes command of Public Health Command Region-North from Col. Bradford W. Hildabrand on Aug. 28.

photo by nAte pesCe

photo by lt. Col. j. DArrell siDes

An uprooted tree rests on a house on Washington Avenue in the historic section of Heritage Park on June 30. Winds in excess of 60 mph moved across the region June 29 at around 11 p.m. and left behind more than 75 downed trees and power outages on post, the aftermath of the band of storms called a derecho.

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September 2012 Year in Review October

Truck owner and operator Bobby Jones helps guide a 21-cm Morser onto his truck on Sept. 6. The Fort Meade Museum donated the German howitzer captured during World War I to the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum at Fort Sill, Okla.

photo by brian krista

SEPTEMBER• Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Perez of U.S.

Cyber Command competes at the Inter-national Triathlon Union’s Long Course Dualthlon World Championships on Sept. 2 in Switzerland. As a member of Team USA, Perez finished the competition 113th overall and 11th in his age group.

• The Fort Meade Museum transports a 21-cm Morser 16 on Sept. 6 to Fort Sill, Okla. The German howitzer, captured by First Army in 1918 and displayed outside the museum, was donated to the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum at Fort Sill.

• More than 400 Boy Scouts learn new science, technology, engineering and math skills during the Scouts’ first S.T.E.M. Merit Badge Day hosted Sept. 8 by Fort Meade.

• The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sponsors “Fort Meade’s Got Talent” on Sept. 8 at McGill Training Center. The annual talent show drew its biggest crowd since its inception in 2008.

• Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and more than a dozen Soldiers and Airmen from the Defense Information School participate in Towson University’s “Hometown Heroes Day” on Sept. 15 at Johnny Unitas Stadium. DINFOS students helped extend the National 9/11 Flag prior to the game, while Rothstein conducted the coin toss.

• First Army Division East welcomes its new senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis E. Defreese, on Sept. 21.

• More than 2,400 service members participate in the three-mile Wellness and Remembrance Joint Service Run that paid tribute to 9/11 and to POWs and MIAs while promoting wellness and resiliency.

• MacArthur Middle School Princi-pal Stacy Gray signs a three-year sister school agreement of education and cultural exchange with the Beijing Yucai School in China on Sept. 21. Lui Jizhong, principal of the school in China, visited Fort Meade with a delegation of educators.

• Eight Fort Meade firefighters respond Sept. 30 to a two-alarm fire at the Seven Oaks apartments in Odenton. Two dozen apartments were evacuated, including four occupied by Fort Meade personnel.

• Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Latter replaces former Garrison Com-mander Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Smith.

OCTOBER• The Civilian Wellness and Civilian

Fitness Program begins a pilot run on Oct. 1. The program allows civilian employees to take off one hour, three days a week, from work to engage in an exercise or fitness program.

• Beginning Oct. 1, service members pro-vide additional personnel at the installation’s five access control points, part of a mitigation plan to keep the gates open while the Director-ate of Emergency Services transitions from

contract security guards to Department of Army security guards.

• Fort Meade hosts the University System of Maryland’s monthly meeting of the uni-versity presidents on Oct. 1 at the Conference Center, providing an opportunity for the installation to build a partnership with the university system.

• Garrison leaders join Exchange officials in breaking ground on the site of the new Exchange during a ceremony on Oct. 16. The

photo by Joshua kruger

Airmen from the Defense Information School’s Air Force Student Detachment reach up to secure the flag during Retreat on Oct. 29 at McGlachlin Parade Field during Hurricane Sandy. The superstorm left minimal damage on post.

photo by staff sgt. sean k. harp

BELOW: Fort Meade firefighters work to extinguish a two-alarm fire at the Seven Oaks apartment complex in Odenton on Nov. 7. The fire was the second at the complex in six weeks.

new $26 million shopping center is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

• Sarah’s House celebrates 25 years of providing emergency shelter and transitional housing with a reception on Oct. 19 featur-ing Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold and Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein.

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November 2012 Year in Review December

NOVEMBER• The Fort Meade Religious Support

Office coordinates a designated offering, collecting $14,770.14 for the Maryland Food Bank in response to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s call to engage Marylanders in community service projects aimed at ending childhood hunger.

• The Fort Meade Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recre-ation is notified that the “Fort Meade’s Got Talent” production held Sept. 6 won first place in the Variety Entertain-ment and Talent Show category of the 2012 Army Festival of the Arts and Recreation Program competition.

• Fort Meade service members par-ticipate in the University of Maryland’s Military Appreciation Day on Nov. 3, prior to the Terrapins football game. Air Force Col. Michael Downs, commander of the 707th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, conducted the coin toss.

• Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin visits Manor View Elementary School on Nov. 5 as part of Operation Caring Class-room, an education initiative adminis-tered by the Armed Forces Foundation. Cardin discussed Veterans Day and the sacrifices made by service members and their families.

• Nine Fort Meade firefighters respond to a two-alarm fire at Oden-ton’s Seven Oaks apartment complex on Nov. 7. The fire, which displaced two

Fort Meade Soldiers, was the second fire at the complex in six weeks.

• The Freedom Inn Dining Facility is judged Nov. 8 for the 45th annual Philip A. Connelly Award, which recognizes excellence in food service, for the civilian garrison category. The Freedom Inn is one of only seven civilian-operated dining facilities in the Army, out of more than 120, that was selected to compete.

• Fort Meade service members take on rugby players from the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C., during a friendly series on Nov. 10 at Mullins Field.

• David Hatch, senior historian at the National Security Agency’s Center for Cryptologic History, speaks at the post’s Native American Heritage Month observance on Nov. 15 about the role of code talkers in World Wars I and II.

DECEMBER• The Fort Meade USO-Metro opens

its new center at 8612 6th Armored Calvary Road on Dec. 5. The 2,200-square-foot facility features a nine-seat theater room, wireless computer space, snack bar, patio and the organization’s food pantry.

• Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Strang, an instructor at the Defense Information School, is one of 12 photographers hon-ored Nov. 30 at the Pentagon for their participation in the Arts in Embassies

photo by nate pesce

Nineteen-month-old Max Tjaden takes a gander at the rooster and hen that were a part of the petting zoo at Picerne Military Housing’s “December in the City” holiday event for residents on Dec. 1.

photo by noah scialom

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and his wife, Audrey, hand out eggnog during the Thanksgiving dinner at the Freedom Inn Dining Hall attended by a record crowd of 527 people.

Program.• Retired Washington Redskins defen-

sive end Dexter Manely signs autographs at the Exchange on Dec. 1.

• Jason Acuna, also known as “Wee Man,” screens his Christmas movie “Elf Man” at the Post Theater on Dec. 2.

• Fort Meade celebrates the holidays with the U.S. Army Field Band Holiday Concert on Dec. 6 to a packed audience in the Meade High auditorium and with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 7 on McGlachlin Parade Field that drew more than 600 people.

photo by sarah pastrana

Ryan Maclean, 3, has his photo taken with Santa, who arrived atop a fire truck and then met with children in the gazebo during the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 7 at McGlachlin Parade Field.