Honor For First Woman and First African American to Lead Maryland National Guard
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today led the dedication ceremony of the Major General Linda L. Singh Readiness Center in Carroll County. In 2015, the governor appointed General Singh as the first woman and the first African American to lead the Maryland National Guard.
Watch the governor’s remarks.
Watch the full dedication ceremony.
“Just as General Singh made history when I appointed her as the first woman and the first African American ever to lead the Maryland National Guard, today we once again witness her making history as we add a lasting tribute to her legacy of distinguished service to our state and our nation,” said Governor Hogan. “I can truly say that it has been an honor to serve as commander-in-chief of the Maryland National Guard—one of America’s finest military organizations. And I just want to express how proud I am—how proud we all are—of each and every one of the men and women of the Maryland National Guard. That is especially true today as we celebrate General Linda Singh and the values that she has upheld throughout her entire life: hard work, determination, and character.”
Last October, the governor unveiled the portrait honoring General Singh and announced that he would introduce a proposal at the next meeting of the Board of Public Works—where it passed unanimously—to officially rename the Maryland National Guard’s Freedom Readiness Center as the Major General Linda L. Singh Readiness Center.
General Singh retired in Sept. 2019 after 38 years of service in both the enlisted and officer ranks, which included deployed assignments in Kosovo and a combat tour in Afghanistan. Her numerous decorations and honors include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.
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