ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (August 12, 2016) -- Maryland lieutenant governor, Boyd K. Rutherford, visited the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command's Aberdeen Test Center, or ATC, for their quarterly Brown Bag Leadership session Aug. 12 on Aberdeen Proving Ground, or APG.
ATC's leadership sessions started in February 2014 with a primary goal of connecting senior leaders with future leaders within the ATC workforce and the larger APG community and to give them the opportunity to share their leadership philosophy, successes and failures with the workforce.
The visit started with Rutherford attending a working luncheon with APG Garrison Commander, Col. James E. Davis, and ATEC and ATC senior leaders. Davis gave Rutherford an overview of the installation, and the ATC technical director, John Wallace, provided information on ATC's mission.
After lunch, ATC commander, Col. Morris L. Bodrick, introduced Rutherford to the APG workforce.
"I'm really honored to be invited here today to give you some of my thoughts on leadership and share a little bit about my personal story," Rutherford said.
Rutherford was born and raised in the District of Columbia, where he later attended high school at Archbishop Carroll High School.
Rutherford received his Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Political Science from Howard University in the District of Columbia, and a Master's Degree in Communications and Management and a law degree from the University of Southern California.
After working in banking and technology sales, Rutherford realized he had had a change of heart regarding his career choice for the future.
Rutherford shared his story of running for elective office, which, he said, "was not what I had in mind a couple of years ago."
Rutherford had served as the Secretary of the Department of General Services under then Governor Ehrlich, in the same Cabinet as Larry Hogan, who was the Secretary of Appointments (at the time). Serving as Cabinet secretaries, they found out they shared many of the same political philosophies. When Hogan began making moves to run for Governor, it was no surprise for Rutherford to be considered as his partner.
"In Winter of 2013, I received a call from a friend (who also was a friend of Larry Hogan, the future Maryland Governor) who asked me to meet him for coffee to talk about something that had serious political implications," Rutherford said. "I was hoping my friend wouldn't ask me to run for Lieutenant Governor with Hogan."
But the friend did.
Rutherford stated that Hogan had asked his friend to talk to him about considering running for lieutenant governor when Hogan ran for governor.
After some convincing and talking to his family, Rutherford decided he wanted to join forces with Hogan to help change Maryland for the better.
Rutherford explained there were a lot of people who thought he and Hogan had a good chance of winning the nomination.
"We believed and we were not afraid to fail, trying," he said. "The campaign taught us about perseverance and continuing to fight no matter how long the odds were. This has been something that has helped us after taking office."
Both Hogan and Rutherford have been in office since January 21, 2015.
Rutherford shared some challenges he and Hogan have faced since their time in office.
"In positions of authority, the truth is you never stop learning or growing or developing and you realize very quickly that you're only as good as the team that you have around you," Rutherford said. "You can't lead the team from behind your desk."
Rutherford encouraged people to get out and get engaged with their teammates. "You will be able to talk to those people who are really the subject matter experts and you will be able to learn from them," he said.
After thanking everyone for the opportunity to come out and share his thoughts on leadership, Rutherford wrapped up the session by opening up the floor for questions and answers and further discussions with the APG workforce.
After the session, Bodrick and Wallace gave Rutherford a tour of several ATC ranges on APG during an overflight. Following the overflight, Rutherford had a first-hand experience of driving 4.5 miles around the Automotive Technology Evaluation Facility in a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle All-Terrain Vehicle, known as M-ATV.
As a token of ATC's appreciation for Rutherford's visit, Bodrick presented him with a framed picture of Rutherford standing in front of the M-ATV he had driven.
Related Links:
The U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center
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