Growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead looked hard for a way to finance a college education. Accepting an ROTC scholarship, she began her military career and is now holds the top military position in the state.
She now is the only Black woman to lead a state military, responsible for the combat readiness of 4,600 soldiers and airmen.
In early 2021, Birckhead was appointed by the National Guard Bureau as the task force commander for over 14,000 guard members guarding the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6 attack. She also led the Maryland National Guard's security mission for President Biden's inauguration.
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/24/1173815128/maryland-national-guard-janeen-birckhead-adjutant-general
