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Maryland Army Guard Changes Command

September 15th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Governor Larry Hogan presided over a change of command ceremony today as Major General Linda L. Singh relinquished command of the Maryland National Guard and the Maryland Military Department to Major General Timothy E. Gowen. The ceremony represents the orderly transition of one commander to another through the passing of colors.

“Over the past four and a half years under the skilled and visionary leadership of General Singh, this Maryland Guard has risen to even greater heights,” said Governor Hogan. “I have every confidence that General Gowen will lead you with great distinction and integrity and that he will work tirelessly to ensure that Maryland’s National Guard remains one of America’s very best military organizations.”

As part of the ceremony, General Singh, as the outgoing commander, received the colors from the Maryland National Guard’s Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Perlisa D. Wilson. General Singh then passed the organization’s colors to her commander, Governor Hogan, who then passed the colors to the adjutant general, General Gowen. The colors were then returned to the Senior Enlisted Leader who then returns them to a color guard, marking the conclusion of the transition.

General Singh’s retirement marks 38 years of service in both the enlisted and officer ranks. She was the first African American woman in history to be appointed as adjutant general of a state National Guard. She has served in staff and command assignments at every level, including deployed assignments in Kosovo and a combat tour in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. General Singh grew up in Frederick County and is a longtime resident of Prince George’s County, where she currently resides with her husband and daughter.

General Gowen comes back to Maryland after serving with the U.S. Army Futures Command in Austin, TX. He previously served as the assistant adjutant general for the Maryland Army National Guard from April 2015 to September 2018 and is a senior U.S. Army Aviator with significant piloting experience. He holds an advanced degree in engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. General Gowen is a longtime resident of Leonardtown, Md., where he lives with his wife and daughter.

The adjutant general is responsible for the daily operations of the Maryland Military Department, which includes the Maryland Army National Guard, Maryland Air National Guard, Maryland Emergency Management Agency, and Maryland Defense Force. The adjutant general is a member of the governor’s cabinet and is responsible for the readiness, administration, and training of more than 6,700 members of the Military Department.

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