Major General Janeen L. Birckhead is the 31st Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard. In this capacity, Maj. Gen. Birckhead serves as military advisor to the Governor of Maryland and commands a force of more than 6,300 Soldiers, Airmen, and federal and state civilian employees. The Maryland National Guard provides highly trained forces ready to for both domestic emergencies and natural disaster response, and global expeditionary missions in support of U.S. national security.
Maj. Gen. Birckhead has commanded Army units at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. Before her current role, Maj. Gen. Birckhead served as Commander of the Maryland Army National Guard and the Deputy Commandant for Reserve Affairs at the U.S. Army War College. Under her leadership, the Maryland Army National Guard led the statewide Vaccine Equity Task Force, ensured COVID-19 testing vaccination access to vulnerable populations across Maryland. Later, Maj. Gen. Birckhead commanded more than 15,000 National Guard members from across the nation during the National Guard mission to secure the U.S. Capitol following the events of January 6, 2021. During her command, the Maryland Army National Guard deployed dozens of units and hundreds of Soldiers to defend the United States at home and abroad; and to deepen State Partnership relationships with Estonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In 2004, Maj. Gen. Birckhead mobilized for Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving as Tiger Team Leader and Designated Military Officer - Office of Administrative Review for the Detention of Enemy Combatants. In 2011, she deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, to serve as the NATO International Security Assistance Force deputy current operations officer for security partnering.
Maj. Gen. Birckhead's military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
Maj. Gen. Birckhead graduated with honors with a B.A. in political science from Hampton University and earned her commission as a distinguished military graduate through the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps. She later completed an M.A. in management from the University of Maryland University College and a master’s in strategic studies at the U.S. Army War College.
