ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Two Soldiers and four civilians were honored during the quarterly installation retirement ceremony at the APG post theater Oct. 24. The six retirees had more than 218 years of combined federal service.
The host for the ceremony was APG Garrison Commander Col. Philip Mundweil. He was assisted by APG Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Paul J. Denson.
The honorees were Col. Patrick A. Young, an observer/controller with the Center for Strategic Leadership, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Ralph Troisio, the deputy assistant director for the Aviation & Electronic Warfare Systems under the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center’s Research and Technology Integration Directorate; Matthew R. Maier, U.S. Army Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, and Network Headquarters strategic projects officer; Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Alwyne “Wyne” O. Hutchings III, U.S. Army Garrison APG; Timothy Knox, Army Substance Abuse Program manager, USAG APG.
Mundweil expressed gratitude to each of the retirees for their years of dedicated service. He said the retirees are all part of something much larger than themselves and that their example will inspire future generations.
“Many people join federal service for a variety of reasons, to support our nation and our military, to enable our service members to succeed during conflict, and for some, the tragic experience of 9/11 drove them to service,” Mundweil said.
Mundweil also thanked the families represented, noting the inherent sacrifices that military families endure.
“Please accept our eternal thanks on behalf of a grateful nation for all that you have endured as military families,” he said. “We could not fulfill our obligations to the Soldiers, to Aberdeen Proving Ground, and to the nation, without your love and support.”
Col. Patrick A. Young
Young was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Department of the Army Certificates of Retirement. Young officially retired on Aug. 31, 2024, with 35 years of military service.
Young began his military career on March 22, 1989, when he enlisted as a private in C Company, 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment of the Maryland Army National Guard. By 1993, he rose to the rank of specialist and was selected to attend Officer Candidate School. Young enrolled in OCS, where he graduated as the Honor Graduate for Leadership and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in August 1994.
After commissioning and attending his branch basic course, Young served in numerous positions in the 1-175th Infantry Regiment, including rifle platoon leader, mortar platoon leader, and company executive officer. His culminating position was command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-175th Infantry, from February 2001 through April 2004.
After a one-year federal mobilization supporting Operation Noble Eagle from January 2003 through April 2004, he was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 29th Infantry Division, as the Brigade Assistant S4. In April 2007, he mobilized for one year of deployment to Iraq with the 58th Bridge Combat Team, MDARNG, returning to the U.S. in May 2008.
In 2010, Young was assigned as the deputy maintenance branch chief of MDARNG. This began a 12-year period of assignments within the MDARNG Logistics Enterprise, culminating in his assignment as deputy chief of staff, logistics, MDARNG, in June 2017. In June 2022, Young transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve for an assignment with the Center for Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Young holds a Bachelor of Science degree in history from the U.S. Army War College and lives in Bel Air, Maryland with his son, Carl.
Young appreciated all the people who supported him throughout his career. He described the retirement ceremony as putting a “bow” on his military career.
“My military career started with me signing the contract and raising my right hand, and it is closing out with this ceremony today,” he said.
Young currently serves as a civilian at Fort Meade, Maryland. He is looking forward to having more time with his family.
Ralph Troisio
Troisio received the Superior Civilian Service Medal, the Department of the Army certificates of appreciation and retirement. His wife, Joanne Troisio, received the DA Certificate of Appreciation. He retired on Sept. 30, 2024, with 40 years of civilian service.
Under RTI’s Spectrum Dominance, Intelligence & Survivability Portfolio, Troisio oversaw the Electronic Warfare & Survivability and Radar Division. He worked to ensure the two divisions are progressing in the right direction to allow for the successful transition of RTI science and technology programs to the Army Aviation and Electronic Warfare communities.
A key part of this role was knowing what’s going on in other sectors, whether it be other government agencies, military services, or academia, and to keep each informed and updated on the advancements being made within the subject areas. Prior to his current assignment, Troisio was the chief of the Electronic Warfare Air/Ground Survivability Division at the Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate, DEVCOM C5ISR Center.
He was responsible for providing the warfighter with affordable aircraft and ground electronic sensor and countermeasure systems that enhanced the survivability and lethality of U.S. and coalition forces.
Troisio thanked his colleagues, friends, and family for their support.
Matthew R. Maier
Maier retired on Nov. 30, 2024, after 35 years of civilian service.
Maier received the DA certificates of appreciation and retirement. His wife, Maria Maier, received the DA certificate of appreciation. As a strategic projects officer, Maier provided guidance and direction to PEO C3N headquarters staff and project managers on high-interest unified network portfolio projects. Previously, Maier served as Project Manager Interoperability, Integration and Service also in PEO C3N, leading a diverse workforce of more than 300 personnel supporting a portfolio of acquisition product management offices valued at over $8B. Product offices included Tactical Cyber and Network Operations, Command Post Integrated Infrastructure, Network Integration and Modernization, Tactical Network Initialization and Configuration, Common Hardware Systems, and Enterprise Identity and Credential Access Management. Maier also oversaw the development and integration of the Army’s unified network, modernizing network designs through an iterative process infused with cutting-edge commercial solutions informed by Soldier-led experimentation.
Throughout his career, Maier has supported multiple Army acquisition organizations in leadership roles, including PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors; PEO Information Systems; PEO for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation and Data, Engineering and Software. Maier served in Centralized Selection List Project Manager Key Billet leadership positions of increasing responsibility for more than 10 years.
Maier thanked his wife for her unwavering support.
“She has really been the integrity and backbone for me,” he said.
Maier said as he reflected on his career, he appreciated the Army’s values of selfless service, integrity, and personal courage.
“You are going to be the one who has to live with the decisions that you made and whether you made the right choices at the right times, whether they were moral or ethical, whether they lived up to the Army’s values.”
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Alwyne O. Hutchings
Hutchings will retire on May 31, 2025, after serving for two decades.
Hutchings received the Meritorious Service Medal, DA certificates of appreciation and retirement, the Chaplains’ Corps Certificate of Retirement. His wife, Catherine Hutchings, received the Chief of Chaplains Certificate of Appreciation.
Hutchings is a native of Macon, Georgia. In May 1988, he received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, before answering the call to full-time ministry and attending Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.
Hutchings worked as an English teacher, a trainer and job developer for people with developmental disabilities, and a community education representative.
Hutchings graduated with a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in May 1995. After serving as a pastor in several churches, Hutchings entered the Chaplain’s Officer Basic Course at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, on May 31, 2005. Following his graduation, he went to his first duty station at Fort Cavazos, Texas. He served from 2005 until 2008 as the battalion chaplain for the 57th Signal Battalion. During his service there, he deployed for 14 months to Iraq as a member of the Third Signal Battalion.
Other assignments include Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort George G. Meade, Maryland; Fort Cavazos, Texas; Fort Moore, Georgia; Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; and Stuttgart, Germany.
Hutchings said he felt called to serve Soldiers and thanked his wife for her support.
“I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful partner,” he said. “I look forward to sharing what’s next with you.”
Janmichael S. Graine
Graine received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the DA certificates of appreciation and retirement. His wife, Sonja Graine received the DA certificate of appreciation. He retired on Oct. 31, 2024, with more than 29 years of civilian service and more than 9 years of military service.
Graine was raised in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and Hackensack, New Jersey. In 1980, he graduated as a distinguished military graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in biology. Commissioned as a Chemical Corps officer, he served nine and half years on active duty, then resigned from his Regular Army Commission and received an Army Reserve Commission, serving over 15 years. His assignments included serving as both a company and battalion commander and he deployed to Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from May 2003 to May 2004.
Graine graduated from several Army schools, including Airborne, Jungle Warfare, and Command and General Staff College. He holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In 2010, he retired from the Army Reserves as a colonel.
Graine’s civilian career includes serving as a biologist in the U.S. Army Environmental Command from 1993 to 2008. At AEC, Graine was the Army’s Chesapeake Bay program manager, supporting the 19 Army installations in the Bay watershed.
Graine said one of his most acclaimed projects was a “Bayscape” environmental sound demonstration garden at APG South (Edgewood).
In 2008, Graine transferred to the USAG APG, Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division. He initially served as the solid waste program manager, then as the Environmental Compliance branch chief from 2010 until 2020. In this role, he ensured that garrison and mission partners complied with environmental laws and regulations while sustaining customer service and mission focus. In 2020, Graine transferred to the USAG APG/Adelphi Laboratory Center in Adelphi, Maryland, serving as the environmental team lead.
Graine resides in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife and daughter, Carol, 5. During retirement, he anticipates that his daughter will “keep him busy.”
Timothy Knox
Knox received the Civilian Service Commendation Medal, the DA certificates of appreciation and retirement. His wife, Marceea Knox, received the DA certificate of appreciation. Knox retired on Sept. 30, 2024, with 19 years of civilian service.
Timothy Knox was born in Gordo, Alabama. He attended the University of North Alabama on a full scholarship. Knox graduated from Troy University and Stayer University with a master’s degree and earned his doctorate degree from Walden University.
Knox accepted the alcohol and drug control officer position at APG in 2011. He was instrumental in supporting the APG community through several outreach programs and in establishing an effective Employee Assistance Program by providing critical support to employers and employees. He also served in the APG Emergency Operations Center, supporting planned exercises and real-world events. In 2013, Knox received the Active Army Alcohol and Drug Control Officer of the Year Award.
From 2019 to 2024, he served as the ASAP manager in Okinawa, Japan. Due to limited staff, Knox was instrumental in ensuring the smooth operation of the ASAP, performing all functions, including drug testing and prevention training. During this time, he received the best ASAP Chief Award for his outstanding and professional support of the ASAP.
Knox returned to APG ASAP in 2024 to complete his accomplished career as a leader, who balanced knowledge, enthusiastic service, and customer satisfaction.
Knox called his new chapter in life the “sweet spot.” He plans to travel and spend time with his seven grandchildren.
For more photos, visit APG Quarterly Retirement Ceremony – Oct. 24, 2024 | Flickr.
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