Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington accepted command of the Joint Forces Headquarters National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington (JFHQNCR/MDW) from Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst during a change of command ceremony at the Joint Base Myer " Henderson Hall’s Summerall Field, Arlington, Va. June 3, 2011.
General Peter W. Chiarelli, Army Vice Chief of Staff and Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command hosted the ceremony.
JFHQNCR plans, coordinates, maintains situational awareness, and as directed, employs forces for homeland defense and defense support to civil authorities in the National Capital Region Joint Operations Area to safeguard the Nation’s capital. MDW serves as the Army Forces Component and core staff element of the JFHQNCR to conduct operations that deter, prevent, and respond to threats aimed at the National Capital Region; and conducts world-class ceremonial, musical and special events in support of national leadership.
“I want to say thank you to the Soldiers, NCOs, Officers, and Civilians of the Military District of Washington, you have amazed, educated, entertained and sustained us all,” said Horst. “I want to thank the Non-Commissioned officers of both the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region and the Military District of Washington, who, under the watchful eye and leadership of Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Williams, for maintained our high standards and for taking care of our Soldiers.”
Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington graduated from the United States Military academy in 1980 and just prior to assuming command of the JFHQNCR/MDW was deployed on Operation Enduring Freedom on the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC) staff in Kabul, Afghanistan, as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Projects.
During his 30 year career, Linnington has held key command and staff positions that include assignments to the Berlin Brigade in West Berlin, West Germany; multiple tours in the Republic of Korea and on both the Army and Joint Staffs in the Pentagon.
Commander of Troops for the ceremony was 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) commander, Col. David P. Anders, and Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Regiment, (The Old Guard) and the United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own) were the participating units.
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