The only Black woman in the country to lead a state military is opening up about leadership, public service and what it takes to succeed.
Speaking to NPR, Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead said she had no idea that she would end up serving in the military. It was an application for an ROTC scholarship at Hampton University that her mother encouraged her to apply for which propelled her to the heights she has achieved.
“She challenged me to apply, and I got the interview. And then, after I got the interview, I went through the process, and I was awarded the scholarship. How can you turn it down? So that was the journey. That’s how the journey began,” Birckhead said.
Since then her life has taken an unlikely pivot – but a rewarding one indeed. The Maryland native now serves as the state’s adjutant general — the top military position in the state.
In April, Gov Wess Moore appointed her to the role, which means she is now responsible for the combat readiness of 4,600 soldiers and airmen.
“The Adjutant General is the leader of Maryland’s Military, and I am very confident in Janeen’s ability to do just that — lead,” Moore said at the time he announced her nomination. Her record proves her readiness to serve at the highest-ranking military position in the state of Maryland.”
Birchhead began her career in the military while enrolled at Hampton’s ROTC program, which she says instilled within her the importance of hard work, dedication and discipline. The Pirate Battalion (the name of the program) is known to recruit some of the nation’s brightest future officers into the armed forces.
Prior to becoming Adjutant General, she served on former Gov. Larry Hogan’s staff.
While she is humbled to be serving in her role, she also understands that challenges will come her way – especially as it relates to recruiting more people to join the military ranks.
“I have to get out in front of people organizations, the community, and say that this is how the National Guard is a fit for your child or your loved one, and give them some assurance that your loved one will be taken care of, be safe in our organization, that there’s something here for everyone,” Birckhead explained.
She further added that one of her main focuses is to ensure that guard members are in safe and healthy working conditions and making sure the right people are placed in the right roles.
“I will continue to push behavior health and ensuring that we have soldiers and airmen and civilian employees who feel that they’re safe and that they have somewhere to go when their issues need to be addressed,” Birckhead said.
