FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (June 12, 2014) ‐‐ Lt. Gen. David D. Halverson, the commanding general of Installation Management Command and assistant chief of staff for Installation Management, toured the installation Friday to meet with Fort Meade's military and civilian leaders.
The daylong visit included stops at the National Security Agency, Directorate of Emergency Services, Reece Crossings and Asymmetric Warfare Group, as well as an aerial tour of the installation and lunch with garrison employees.
"My goal is to interact with our garrison commander and the senior commanders here to see how are things going, what are their concerns and to ensure that we can pave a way ahead," Halverson said.
In April, Halverson took command of IMCOM, which focuses on synchronizing, integrating and delivering installation services and sustaining facilities in support of senior commanders to enable a "ready and resilient" Army. The command manages 184 installations on four continents.
Halverson's first stop was at the NSA where he spoke with Adm. Michael Rogers, commander of Cyber Command and director of the NSA.
The general also met with retired Col. Daniel L. Thomas, the agency's chief of logistics and a former Fort Meade garrison commander, and Harvey Davis, the director of Installation and Logistics, for a tour of Fort Meade's East Campus.
Halverson, along with Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley, then toured the DES facility and its emergency call center. During the stop, the general met with several firefighters and discussed their training and duties.
"It really is tough work," he said to the firefighters.
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Winegar, director of DES, and Halverson discussed partnerships with local law enforcement and the security of the installation that supports 138,000 people. The group also discussed challenges with funding for infrastructure as the installation continues to grow and alternative ways Halverson is looking to change the funding process.
During lunch at the Freedom Inn Dining Facility, Halverson thanked the garrison staff for their work and the "great services" they provide to the installation's service members in a "24-hour, 7-days-a-week operation."
"It's exciting to be at Fort Meade," Halverson said to the civilian staff. "I appreciate all your leadership."
Halverson also addressed such issues as employees' professional development, budget problems, and speeding up the background check process at Child, Youth and School Services.
Following a status update on the AWG's construction projects, Halverson stopped at Corvias Military Living's Reece Crossings apartment complex, which is expected to open later this month.
After the tour, Halverson said he was impressed with the various partnerships that Fort Meade has formed in order to provide "extraordinary" services for its 79,258 patrons.
"It's a great community," he said. "It really is refreshing to see how, if we work together as a team, you can really move forward."
Foley said the visit was beneficial.
"He left with a clear understanding of the growth on Fort Meade and uniqueness of our huge DoD population," he said. "Lt. Gen. Halverson is committed to fighting for resources needed to support the handful of installations that continue to grow in contrast to overall downsizing of our military.
"Fort Meade is now firmly in his mind as one of those few critical Army forts."
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