APG retirement ceremony farewells four Soldiers, one civilian

By Rachel PonderMay 10, 2024

1st Sgt. Matthew Reed delivers speech
1st Sgt. Matthew Reed, of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company U.S. Army Garrison Aberdeen Proving Ground reflects on his 20-year military career during the quarterly installation retirement ceremony at the APG post theater April 25, 2024. The ceremony farewelled four Soldiers and one civilian. (Photo Credit: Photo by LaMont Harbison, U.S. Army Garrison APG ) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Four Soldiers and one civilian were honored during the quarterly installation retirement ceremony at the APG post theater April 25, 2024. The five retirees had a combined service time of more than 113 years.

The ceremony's host was the Director of the Network-Cross Functional Team, Maj. Gen. Jeth B. Rey. He was accompanied by the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the N-CFT, Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Parker.

The honorees were Lt Col. Scott Bacalja, the deputy staff judge advocate with the 200th Military Police Command at Fort Meade, Maryland, and his wife, Lt. Col. Annette Bacalja, Mission Command Center of Excellence liaison officer/Line of Effort 2 lead, N-CFT; Maj. David “Paul” Bogert Jr., senior air defense artillery evaluations officer for the Aviation and Fires Evaluation Directorate within the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command’s Army Evaluation Center; Murahari Kuncham, a supervisory auditor with the U.S. Army Garrison APG, and 1st Sgt. Matthew Reed, Headquarters and Headquarters Company USAG APG.

Rey highlighted each of the retiree’s accomplishments. He commended the retirees for their commitment and the sacrifices they made to defend our freedom.

“They have taken different paths, we know that, but each has made significant contributions to our fellow Soldiers,” he said.

Rey said each retiree exemplified professionalism and wished them well in their next life phase.

“I am confident that each one will continue to make positive impacts as they head out in the next phase of their life,” he said.

Official photo of Lt. Col. Scott Bacalja
Official photo of Lt. Col. Scott Bacalja deputy staff judge advocate with the 200th Military Police Command at Fort Meade, Maryland. (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo ) VIEW ORIGINAL

Lt. Col. Scott Bacalja

Lt. Col. Scott Bacalja received the Meritorious Service Medal, Department of the Army certificates of appreciation and retirement, the U.S. Flag, and retirement pin. His wife received the DA certificate of appreciation. Bacalja retired on May 1, 2024, with 28 years of military service.

Bacalja began his military career on April 27, 1996; after completing the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Program and graduating from Northern Michigan University, with a Bachelor of Science in justice studies, he received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve.

After graduation, he served in the Michigan National Guard and continued his education at Northern Michigan University obtaining a bachelor’s degree in history. He attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School, graduated in September 2000, received a Juris Doctor, and was admitted to practice law in Michigan in 2001.

In 2000, Bacalja joined the Army Reserve and served in the 783rd Military Police Battalion. In 2003, he mobilized with the 79th Military Police Company and served in Bagdad, Iraq.

In 2004, he joined the active component of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. As a Judge Advocate, his assignments included Fort Liberty, North Carolina; Fort Suse, Iraq; Fort Cavazos, Texas; Bagram, Afghanistan; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Bliss, Texas; and Fort Meade, Maryland.

Bacalja has accepted a civilian position at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. During his retirement, he hopes to spend time hunting, farming, and relaxing with his family.

Official photo of Lt. Col. Annette Bacaljia
Official photo of Lt. Col. Annette Bacaljia, Mission Command Center of Excellence liaison officer/Line of Effort 2 lead, N-CFT. (Photo Credit: . Courtesy photo ) VIEW ORIGINAL

Lt. Col. Annette Bacaljia

Lt. Col. Annette Bacaljia received the Meritorious Service Medal, Department of the Army certificates of appreciation and retirement, the U.S. flag, and a retirement pin. Her husband received the DA Certificate of Appreciation.

Bacaljia officially retires on July 1, 2024, with 20 years of service.

Bacaljia has served as a transportation officer, platoon leader, company executive officer, brigade chemical officer, deputy inspector general and company commander, liaison operations officer for emergency preparedness, and secretary general staff at 20th CBRNE Command.

Bacaljia’s previous assignments include Kaiserslautern, Germany; Fort Cavazos, Texas; Fort Sam Houston; and Fort Bliss, Texas. Her combat tours include Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Bacaljia enjoys riding and training horses, baking, gardening, and fishing. During her retirement, she plans to own and operate a small farming business and bakery. She looks forward to spending more time with her family.

Official photo of Maj. David “Paul” Bogert Jr.
Official photo of Maj. David “Paul” Bogert Jr., senior air defense artillery evaluations officer for the Aviation and Fires Evaluation Directorate within the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command’s Army Evaluation Center. (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo ) VIEW ORIGINAL

Maj. David Paul Bogert Jr.

Maj. David Paul Bogert Jr. received the Meritorious Service Medal, Department of the Army certificates of appreciation and retirement, the U.S. flag, and a retirement pin. His wife, Holyn Ivy-Bogert, received the DA Certificate of Appreciation. He officially retires on June 30, 2024, with 21 years of military service.

Bogert is a native resident of Leesburg, Georgia. He enlisted in 2003 as an armament/electrician for the Apache helicopter. He served seven years at Fort Cavazos with the 4th Infantry Division, 4th Combat Aviation Bigrade, 4th Aviation Battalion, deploying twice to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bogert was commissioned through Officer Candidate in School as an Air Defense Artillery Officer on Nov. 4, 2010.

Bogert’s first officer assignment was with the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Liberty, North Carolina. He also served as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander of the 157th Infantry Brigade, supporting training for the Army National Guard and Reserve units' deployment requirements. Additionally, he was chosen to command the 14th Missile Defense Battery in Kyogamisaki, Japan, supporting the Pacific Command and Homeland Defense missions.

Bogert’s military education includes the Airborne School Basic Parachutists Course, and his civilian education includes a bachelor’s degree in philosophy/psychology from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in leadership from the University of Texas, El Paso.

Official photo of Murahari Kuncham
Official photo of Murahari Kuncham, a supervisory auditor with the U.S. Army Garrison APG. (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo ) VIEW ORIGINAL

Murahari Kuncham

Murahari Kuncham received the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, the DA certificates of retirement and appreciation, and a USAG APG pin, signifying the end of his federal career. His wife, Vinoda Kuncham, received the DA Certificate of Appreciation. Kuncham officially retired on March 31, 2024, after more than 23 years of federal civilian service.

Kuncham emigrated to the U.S. from India in 1980. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting/auditing from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Baltimore.

Kuncham worked as an auditor in private industry from 1980-1982 and then as an auditor/audit supervisor for the State of Maryland, Office of the Inspector General, Department of Human Resources, and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from 1983-2000.

Kuncham began his Army Civilian career in May 2000. Previous assignments include serving as a senior auditor for the Army Audit Agency, APG Field Office; audit manager/chief of Internal Review and Audit Compliance Office; U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, Grafenwoehr, Germany; chief of IRAC USAG; director of Internal Review Office, Eighth Army, Camp Humphreys, Korea.

As the chief of IRAC, USAG APG, Kuncham’s audits have consistently aided the Army in uncovering inefficacies, safeguarding public resources, and identifying savings and potential monetary benefits amounting to millions of dollars.

After retirement, Kuncham plans to take some time off to travel to India and volunteer. He also runs a small business, Harford Accounting Services.

Official photo of 1st Sgt. Matthew Reed
Official photo of 1st Sgt. Matthew Reed, Headquarters and Headquarters Company USAG APG (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo ) VIEW ORIGINAL

1st Sgt. Matthew Reed

1st Sgt. Matthew Reed received the Meritorious Service Medal, DA certificates of appreciation and retirement, the U.S. flag, and a retirement pin. His wife, Victoria Reed, received the DA Certificate of Appreciation. He officially retires on June 30, 2024, with 20 years of military service.

Reed is from Birmingham, Alabama. He enlisted in the Army in April 2004 as a chemical operations specialist and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Reed has served as a company first sergeant, decontamination team leader, sample team leader, assistant team sergeant, team sergeant, observer/coach trainer, operations sergeant, senior enlisted infantrymen S3 non-commissioned officer in charge, and G33 NCOIC.

His stateside assignments include Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; Fort Myer, Virginia; and Fort Polk, Louisiana. He has one overseas assignment to the Republic of South Korea and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

His military education and training include Airborne School and Exploitation Analysis. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Troy University and a master’s degree in forensic psychology from Walden University.

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