ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Local community members are enjoying a deeper understanding of the missions at Aberdeen Proving Ground thanks to a monthly radio series hosted by WAMD 970AM.

"Inside APG: Creating One Community Without A Gate" airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m.

During the show, radio personality Tracy Hart talks with commanders and subject matter experts from any of the 90-plus APG units and organizations about their various missions, how their organizations fit into the big Army picture and the local community.

"Inside APG gives Harford County residents who live outside the gate a better understanding of what's happening on post," said Theresa Wiseman, President of MediaWise, Inc. in Bel Air. "While I don't have day-to-day interactions with folks at APG, I feel like I know what's going on thanks to the interviews."

Another listener, Cindy Mumby of the local online newspaper Dagger Press, agreed and said the information she gets from the radio show has been valuable.

"As Harford County's largest employer, APG is woven into the fabric of our community," said Mumby. "Whether you're one of the thousands of workers there or someone like myself who's rarely been past the gates, it's important to keep in touch with our biggest neighbor."

Since the series kicked off in June, interviews have covered topics that include the furlough, post events that are open to the public, STEM outreach, test center mission and noise, the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, and real-time research at APG that is protecting Soldiers from IEDs and other threats on the battlefield.

"The interviewees talk very candidly and provide answers to questions that everyone wants to know," said Garrison APG Public Affairs Specialist Adriane Foss, who coordinates with Hart to develop topics and identify APG's subject matter experts.

"This has been a wonderful collaboration between APG leadership, who want to foster a transparent relationship and keep the community informed, and community members, who deserve to know what's going on at one of our nation's top hubs of science in support of Soldiers.

"We've been very fortunate to have Tracy [Hart] as the on-air personality because having lived here most of her life, she's knowledgeable about the military and is able to communicate well with the subject matter experts," said Foss. "She's able to get the information that matters, the details that listeners want."

"The show has been really successful so far," said Hart. "We are discussing issues that are important to not only our national security but to the welfare of our local community as well. Most of these topics involve subject matters that the average citizen isn't normally privy to and is broken down in such a way that is easily understood."

Hart said her listening audience continues to increase with each show and she encourages community members to submit topics they'd like to know more about.

"This show is for the community and answers the questions that I hear while out in the public. We want this show to continue to be informative and engaging and we rely on the public to let us know what information they want to learn about," Hart explained.

Listeners who miss the weekly broadcasts can listen to archived interviews anytime by visiting 970WAMD on Facebook or the APG Facebook page.APG organizations that would like to participate in the radio series should call Foss at 410-278-1150 or email usarmy.apg.imcom.mbx.apg-pao@mail.mil.