Home Care In Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

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One Russian-designed tank was noticed in April during the two-day stint it spent at a Louisiana truck stop that doubles as a casino. The other was spotted at a Utah gas station in May.

Both behemoths were headed to the same place: Aberdeen, Maryland.

As the United States and other NATO countries support Ukraine in its war against Russia, a military post in the Northeast Maryland city of 17,000 could prove to be a valuable resource. A T-72 and a T-90 — both Soviet-era tanks weighing at least 90,000 pounds each — were recently trucked from faraway states and along interstate highways to Aberdeen Proving Ground, a U.S. Army testing and research site.

Tanks have been critical in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which started last year, and Ukraine’s allies have sent the country 230 tanks. Among the $76 billion in total aid (military and otherwise) that the U.S. has given are 31 M1 Abrams tanks.

Now, the U.S. is lending the services of the Aberdeen Proving Ground, a 72,000-acre post on the Chesapeake Bay that is the country’s top weapons testing site and the state’s sixth-largest employer. Established in 1917 as the U.S. entered World War I, the proving ground is the oldest of its kind. Over the last century, it has studied a range of weapons, from small arms to bombs and tanks to chemical and biological warfare.

The Department of Defense described the T-90’s arrival at Aberdeen as “part of our ongoing commitment to provide Ukraine the capabilities it needs to counter Russian aggression.”

The U.S. already had access to Russian tanks built during the Soviet-era and studied such weaponry as recently as last year. But the two tanks now on U.S. soil could provide essential, updated knowledge of Russia’s fleet, as well as supply ideas for how Ukraine can improve its tanks, many of which are T-72s.

Igor Novikov, a former adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tweeted in April that a “trophy” Russian T-90 was on its way to Maryland as a “small thank-you gift” to the U.S., but it’s unclear precisely how the U.S. obtained the T-72. Ukraine or an allied country likely shipped it to the U.S., where there are advanced resources, like those at Aberdeen, for researching tanks.

While it is not unusual, experts say, that the U.S. would study the weapons systems of rival nations, the advent of the tanks underscores the importance of gathering intelligence during warfare and Aberdeen’s key role in doing so.

There are myriad reasons to study enemy technology, and an understanding of a foe’s abilities is invaluable on the battlefield. Analyzing how far and accurately a tank’s gun can fire is important, of course, but so are scores of other details: Knowing a tank’s fuel economy, for example, is helpful in figuring out how far a tank can travel before refueling.

Michael E. O’Hanlon, a senior fellow and director of research in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, said if Russia had modernized a tank by adding improved armor or a stronger engine or sensors that ward off missiles, to name a few possible modifications, the souped-up tanks would provide insights beyond what the U.S. learned from aging tanks that haven’t seen combat in decades.

“All of that information would be very tactically useful if you were figuring out what to send the Ukrainians and also how to train the Ukrainians on the use of proper anti-armor weapons,” he told The Baltimore Sun.

Doug Wise, who spent 20 years in the military and 30 years with the Central Intelligence Agency, likened studying a modernized tank versus an old one to examining an iPhone 14 instead of an iPhone 6. In a way, they’re the same phone — or tank, in this case — but they have a “radically different design,” said Wise, who also served as deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Updated information could help the U.S. better understand the abilities of Russia’s weaponry. That benefits Ukraine, but is also a boon for the U.S., which collects intelligence about potential adversaries.

“Nobody likes to have their technology fall into the other guys’ hands,” O’Hanlon said.

The T-90 first was spotted in the U.S. in April when the truck hauling it broke down in Louisiana. The truck dropped the 30-foot tank off — without any tarp or canvas concealing it — and, with its load lightened, drove away to be repaired. Two days later, it returned, picked up the tank, and continued to Aberdeen. The tank’s sighting popped up on social media, then was reported by The War Zone, a military news website.

“I walked out there and, lo and behold, there’s a tank on a big ol’ trailer in my back parking lot,” said Cody Sellers, the store manager at Peto’s Travel Center and Casino on Interstate 10 in Roanoke, Louisiana.

The phone at Peto’s rang for days as word spread and curious visitors hoped to get a look at the mammoth machine parked among the gas pumps. One person left a Google review with photos of the tank saying: “Food is so good that even Russian came over with their T90.” Sue Gough, a spokesperson for the Department of Defense, confirmed a T-90 tank was en route to Aberdeen when “the truck transporting it suffered a mechanical issue.”

“The tank’s explosive reactive armor was inert, it was not armed or carrying any dangerous material, and at no point posed a risk to the public. This is part of our ongoing commitment to provide Ukraine the capabilities it needs to counter Russian aggression,” she said. “For security reasons, we will not comment further on this matter.”

A month later, in May, a different Russian-designed tank popped up at a U.S. gas station.

Dave Trojan is a 21-year Navy veteran who now spends time as an “aviation archaeologist” and he had been digging through old airplane crash sites when he stopped for gas at a Pilot station near the Nevada-Utah line. He was aware of the recent T-90 sighting and he promptly recognized this tank — sitting atop a truck trailer, under a tarp but with its gun protruding — as being a T-72, a predecessor to the T-90.

“I knew right away that it was a Russian tank,” he said.

Trojan quickly snapped photographs of the tank and shared the images with Tankers, a social media group.

“I worked in the government for 25 years, so I just know that the government does a lot of things that they don’t talk about and so when you find stuff out … I just think it needs to get out there so people can know about it,” Trojan said.

The Nevada Automotive Test Center — a private evaluation facility for commercial and military vehicles — confirmed in a statement that the T-72 was headed from its site to Aberdeen. The tank was not armed nor “carrying any dangerous material and at no point posed a risk to the public,” the test center said, adding that it was sent to Aberdeen to meet the Department of Defense’s “test and training requirements.” The center declined to comment further for security reasons.

How exactly the tanks will be examined and studied remains unknown and federal intelligence agencies have, unsurprisingly, not been eager to share information. The CIA declined to comment and the DIA did not respond to a request for comment.

It’s likely the U.S. is seeking to identify the capabilities of the tanks (particularly the T-90, the more modern of the two) to impart that intelligence to Ukraine, experts say. The U.S. could also be searching for ways to improve the T-72 to provide intelligence that would boost Ukraine’s own fleet.

“It’s distinctly possible that we’re trying to figure out how to make that T-72 better because it may still be one of the most important kinds of tanks for the Ukrainians to operate,” O’Hanlon said.

Wise said at Aberdeen, experts can pull apart a tank, reconstruct it, see how it functions, test its armor and study any number of minute details. There are “near infinite ways” to glean important intelligence and there isn’t a better place to do so than Aberdeen.

“They know weapon systems,” Wise said. “That is one place that is unparalleled in expertise in both U.S.-developed weapons, as well as foreign weapons.”

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – A team of Soldiers and U.S. Army civilians recently came together to design a better backpack.

Soldiers from the U.S. Army Nuclear Disablement Teams helped to conceptualize, coordinate and create a backpack that helps them to provide theater-level confirmation and identification of radiological materials more quickly in a tactical environment.

The Nuclear Disablement Teams worked with partner organizations, including the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.

The Nuclear Disablement Teams are part of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. military’s premier CBRNE formation. The U.S. military’s only Nuclear Disablement Teams — NDT 1 “Manhattan,” NDT 2 “Iron Maiden” and NDT 3 “Vandals” – are all stationed on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

As the U.S. Department of Defense’s nuclear subject matter experts, NDTs directly contribute to the nation’s strategic deterrence by staying ready to exploit and disable nuclear and radiological Weapons of Mass Destruction infrastructure and components to deny near-term capability to adversaries. The NDTs facilitate follow-on WMD elimination operations.

Maj. Aaron J. Heffelfinger, the deputy team chief from Nuclear Disablement Team 1, said the new mobile backpack was the result of a six-month project.

“The challenge the NDT always had with its Ortec High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors was always the deliberate cool down period required for the equipment to be ready, typically in excess of seven hours from a complete shutdown,” said Heffelfinger, a native of Moore Township, Pennsylvania, who previously served as an Air Defense Artillery officer.

Since the detector needs to draw outside air for its internal cooling system and needs to expel this hot air to maintain cryogenic operating temperatures, Heffelfinger said the cases that came with the detector required the equipment to be shut down during transportation. The team members would have to either wait for around eight hours to use their best gamma detector or transport it unprotected with nothing more than a shoulder strap.

The backpack enables the NDTs to move faster and provides commanders with greater operational flexibility.

“Time is always of the essence. The longer it takes the team to provide the gamma spectroscopy and isotopic assay results to the supported unit, the more constrained the commander becomes,” said Heffelfinger. “If we can provide that information without an 8-hour cooldown first, it can drive the decision-making process that much faster.”

Capt. John M. Prevost, an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer from Nuclear Disablement Team 2, said the power and cooling systems are self-contained and interchangeable with a range of batteries and store power on the backpack.

The detector can remain operational almost indefinitely with the new backpack, said Prevost, adding that it can be used anywhere a Soldier can carry it.

By allowing the NDTs to carry spectral analysis software on a target downrange, the backpack eliminates the need for reach-back support if communications become degraded.

“This new backpack provides a protective, continuously-cooling, man-packable solution for bringing our most critical detection equipment to a target,” said Prevost. “The backpack makes our most critical detection and analysis capability smaller, lighter, faster and more ruggedized for expeditionary deployments.”

Prevost said the improved backpack was the result of an on-going NDT discussion on existing capability limitations and doctrinal requirements.

“The backpack is proof that the best way to solve complex problems is to assemble teams of experts from varied backgrounds and establish a common vision of success, especially during initial design,” said Prevost, a native of Shelby, North Carolina, and graduate of Wofford College, who served as a platoon leader in the 21st Ordnance Company (EOD), a one-of-a-kind Weapons of Mass Destruction-focused EOD company.

“By doing this, you gain varied perspectives on potential problems, existing or innovative design solutions and end-user considerations early in the process,” said Prevost. “Put simply, a small group of motivated experts can accomplish a great deal in an environment where ideas and input are openly traded regardless of rank, education or background expertise where mission success is the sole collective focus."

Jaywoon Joo was one of the experts who worked on the backpack project.

As a U.S. Army civilian project engineer at the C5ISR Center, Joo regularly supports organizations by rapidly prototyping services for them.

Originally from San Diego, Joo studied mechanical engineering at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas before moving to Maryland.

“My father, Bill Joo, is my main inspiration for becoming an Army civilian,” said Joo. “He has always explained that our work is important - not only because it helps us to win wars - but because it ensures our Soldiers come home safe to their families. I've always found that idea to be really inspiring and it's why I'm working here today.”

The U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground recently issued a clarification about cannabis and their facility in Maryland. Recreational marijuana is now officially legal in Maryland, as of July 1. Anyone over the age of 21 can purchase marijuana products with an ID. However, APG officials are reminding anyone assigned to or visiting APG that federal laws prohibit cannabis use or possession of it. And those rules apply when you step foot on the facility. Whether you’re a resident or employee doesn’t matter. Facilities or bases that are property of the federal government have to abide by federal law.

Cannabis Clarification

The notice from APG officials is a great reminder for clearance holders – especially anyone employed by the federal government. The notice clarifies that cannabis or its related substances are prohibited for all military services, Active Duty, Reservist, National Guard, and DoD civilian employees. The state may have changed its position on marijuana, but inside the APG gates, the federal law applies to everyone there. Even delivery drivers and visitors need to follow the law. Contractors working on site need to understand the fact that federal law applies here.

Cannabis Consequences

For military personnel, the consequences for having marijuana can have a major professional and personal impact. The AMC Legal Center at APG notes, “Possession of marijuana is still punishable under federal law and possession of marijuana could result in arrest, citation, and prosecution, as well as UCMJ action for military members.”

Soldiers could face dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for two years. All branches of the military have a zero-tolerance policy on drug use and possession. Not to mention the fact that they can lose their security clearance.

Civilians have received updated trainings. APG ASAP Manager, Jason Mohilla says that “In the event that an employee feels they have developed a dependency on cannabis we (ASAP) encourage them to seek assistance through our confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP).”

Contractors Not Exempt

Of course, contractors found to be using marijuana would need to self-report. While the Drug Free Workplace Act doesn’t require termination for drug-related violations, you can face unemployment for losing your security clearance. The cannabis law change in Maryland is a great time to remember that as a clearance holder, the state laws don’t change the federal law for you.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Deciding on a name is never easy. From newborn babies to neighborhood softball leagues, the pressure attached to a name choice can be overwhelming. Namers face decisions like whether to stay safe, perhaps go with something tried and true, or to be daring, and possibly doom your team — or child — to a life a ridicule. Frank Frisby faced this very issue, and after vacillating between options, he turned to a trusted confidant that was in the midst of a meteoric rise.

It was May 2023, and Frisby, a data scientist with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Software Engineering Center, was entrusted with bestowing a name upon his team as they prepared to participate in an Army-led artificial intelligence challenge that would span the next four months. Frisby had been working with AI for years at this point, so the decision to turn to ChatGPT, the chatbot developed by OpenAI, seemed almost obvious.

Frisby typed in the parameters, anticipating the benefit of specificity with the software, “We are a team of computer scientists preparing to compete against other teams. We are tasked with providing a model for a ground vehicle that will improve visibility and autonomous function in an off-road environment. We are a military organization…”

The chatbot began to spit out potential names. As the list grew, Frisby read through the options until, finally, he saw it.

Frisby brought it back to his teammates, Maluki Montgomery, a computer scientist with CECOM SEC, and Roy Trieu, a computer scientist assigned to U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command but attached to CECOM SEC. They all agreed, this was it, and that’s when the AI Avengers first assembled.

“Maneuver in Realistic Environments” –—Driving Autonomy in Ground Vehicles

Roughly five months later, in October 2023, the AI Avengers were being called as the winner of the second phase of the Deep Green Challenge. The CECOM team, with Frisby and Trieu working from Aberdeen Proving Ground and Montgomery from Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, had outpaced every other team with their model.

The Deep Green Challenge is an annual event managed by the Army Office of Business Transformation. For the last two challenges, parameters and applications have been supported through a partnership between OBT and the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory. This year’s competition was broken into two parts, the latter of which, won by the AI Avengers, focused on the development of an AI model to support the vision of autonomous ground vehicles in a realistic environment. Specifically, OBT and ARL challenged the teams to facilitate a vehicle’s ability to identify and react given an outdoor combat environment with a particular focus on depth perception.

Phillip Osteen, a researcher with DEVCOM ARL, served as the lead for management of the challenge parameters. As a team lead within the Army’s Artificial Intelligence of Maneuver and Mobility Essential Research Project, Osteen was well suited to develop a problem statement that would challenge the teams and provide benefits via AI breakthroughs for the Army. The winning model, developed by the AI Avengers, would be applied to preexisting systems and within a project by AIMM and the Army as autonomous vehicle research and development continues.

“One of the key challenges for this data is that these systems have to be able to perform in different types of environments because the Army needs to operate anywhere,” Osteen said. “We’re focusing on off-road data for autonomous maneuver in realistic environments.”

"A Couple of Breakthroughs” — Securing a Win

The road ahead would be arduous, and the AI Avengers knew it. In addition to the work on the competition, the team members still had normal work duties that needed attention. During a major portion of the summer, from late June to early August, the team dropped the competition all together.

“We almost gave up because of time constraints,” Frisby said. “We actually stopped working on it for a couple months.”

Frisby’s passion for AI is contagious. Radiating excitement about the field, he often grins as he gets excited about a topic. He is fastidious when he talks shop, keenly aware of his audience; especially when he speaks with those outside his field. He pulls back on the throttle when he explains more technical aspects of his work, like a pilot taking a civilian on a familiarization flight — best to slow down and avoid a mess in the cockpit.

As summer came to an end, the team learned that new tools were available to the competitors. Specifically, the teams could test their models more easily, and most importantly, they would now have results faster than before. With these changes, the team refocused and approached the challenge in creative ways.

Aside from exploiting new opportunities, another advantage came from a decision to not use an assistive tool.

Light detection and ranging, commonly known as Lidar, is a remote sensing method that uses lasers to measure depth perception and to generate three dimensional images. For the Deep Green Challenge, teams were permitted to use Lidar in building their models, but the AI Avengers decided against using the technology.

“Our team realized that we don’t need Lidar,” Frisby said. “As humans, we don’t have additional tooling like Lidar to see how far something is away from us.”

Aside from supporting the team’s overall project, forgoing the use of Lidar provided practical utility.

Osteen, the competition manager with DEVCOM ARL, said that Lidar usually emits a noticeable signal. He added that although it was allowed in this competition, eventually the Army’s autonomous vehicles will require a stealthier profile. A model not reliant on Lidar would, theoretically, support a more secure vehicle.

Into early autumn, the team’s testing results, and their confidence, steadily improved.

Montgomery, the AI Avenger from Fort Gregg-Adams, recalled a mood shift as the competition passed the halfway point.

“We kind of got rejuvenated, being able to get the immediate feedback in terms of how well the model was performing,” Montgomery said. “It was kind of addictive; you get that immediate feedback and then you can tweak things and improve them.”

Montgomery emits a tranquility when he speaks. He articulates clearly and concisely while remaining consistently calm as he explains nuanced concepts. A computer scientist with SEC for nearly 20 years, it’s difficult to discern whether his placid demeanor is the result of two decades of experience or his upbringing on the West Coast. More than likely, it’s both.

Heading into the end of the challenge, the team watched as the leaderboard looked more and more friendly.

“A week before the competition was coming to an end, we came across a couple of breakthroughs that let us overtake the leader,” Montgomery said.

After their breakthroughs, with only a few days left, the AI Avengers grabbed hold of their spot and refused to let go. The dance for first place was over.

“Leaders in This Space” — AI’s Impact on the Joint Force

After most competitions, even winners don’t have much to show for it. Outside of professional athletes, a better record, and a bit of pride is the most a team can hope for.

For Frisby, Montgomery and Trieu, this win was more than a win.

“For the Army, I’m very happy that we can help move technology forward,” Trieu said. “That’s one of the dreams I have to help move the Army a lot faster than we are right now.”

Trieu is noticeably enthusiastic about moving the Army forward. Though less experienced with AI than his teammates, his expertise in computer science is palpable. Trieu’s confidence is nearly as reassuring as his humility; an expert quick to acknowledge he may not know something but is excited to learn. With prior experience on Wall Street and in the private sector, his desire to advance the Army is assertive, yet caring.

“Every single second counts on Wall Street. When I joined the Army [workforce], I had the same thought. If the Solider can get information faster, it saves lives.” Trieu said.

It may seem like hyperbole, saving lives through software, but the model built by the AI Avengers is already showing tangible results. Frisby said that the model, which is still in a testing phase, has shown a 95% success rate. With continued success, the model will forge a path into new Army autonomous systems and in doing so, directly benefit the Soldiers that will use them.

Osteen said that the Deep Green Challenge has been an exciting pipeline for autonomous vehicle innovation. According to him, the winning model of the Deep Green Challenge Phase I was applied to official Army autonomy programs within a matter of months. For Phase II a similar trajectory is expected after initial testing.

“That is how these things will impact not just Solider-machine interaction…,” said Osteen. “…but really just improve autonomy performance overall because perception is really critical.”

The impact is not lost on the AI Avengers.

Montgomery notes that AI has captured the world’s attention, and supporting the Army’s efforts in the field is incredibly meaningful.

“There’s a definite need for the Army, and the Department of Defense at large, to really be leaders in this space,” he said. “I firmly believe it’s a game changer.”

At some point in the near future, assuming testing continues using the team’s winning model, a U.S. Army autonomous vehicle system will be better able to operate in the harsh and austere reality that is combat.

Three CECOM teammates, bound by a commitment to the Army and innovation, went from uncertainty about their team’s name to assembling a model that could potentially change the Army’s AI landscape.

“This model gets to be used out there in the real world,” Frisby said. “Where it helps against adversaries, it helps make sure we protect U.S. interests. It makes me happy that I was able to participate in something like that, and to provide something like that to the Army."

A federal contractor laid off nearly 90 contract employees who work at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground this month, and a union leader claims the layoffs are part of a change in strategy for the Harford County base.

In an email obtained by the Baltimore Business Journal, Karen Holt, the director of Harford County’s Office of Economic Development, said that 88 contract employees who work for Jacobs Technologies Inc. (NYSE: J) were let go, attributing the layoffs to “government funding impacts.”

Bill Harkum, president of the local chapter of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union, said about 160 workers have been laid off since May, a majority of whom worked for Jacobs. The union represents workers at the Proving Ground, including the majority of those let go. There may be more layoffs coming, Harkum said, adding that there has been a “strategy shift” at the testing center that will lead to a lesser workload.

“This is the start of something. Without the two wars the US was involved with, we knew the workload was going to change, but still, this was kind of abrupt,” Harkum said.

Jacobs declined to confirm the layoffs or provide a number of impacted contractors. The U.S. Army also did not respond to a request for comment on the layoffs and change in strategy. Matt Button, Harford County’s public information officer, confirmed that Jacobs’ contractors were laid off, and that the county helped provide transitional services to the impacted workers.

Harkum said other contractors at the base including Caelum Research Corp.; Bering Global Solutions LLC; and Science and Technology Corp. (STC) have also seen employee counts impacted by the layoffs. Representatives for the contractors could not be reached for comment.

One of the Proving Ground’s key departments is the United States Army Aberdeen Test Center, where a majority of the laid-off contractors worked. In the past, Harkum said other branches of the military have used the testing center due to its versatile nature, even though the testing center is an Army facility. Harkum said the United States Marine Corps worked with the Army when the Marines were looking to use new armored vehicles, and used the Aberdeen center to test its capabilities. Harkum said moving forward the Army does not plan to allow other branches to use the test site.

“This is a change in how they want to take on the workload," Harkum said. "There is work out there to be done, but they’ve decided to do it a different way at the Aberdeen test center."

The Aberdeen Proving Ground opened in 1917 and has a long history as a testing site for the military. Over its more than 100-year history, the site has been an important economic engine for Harford County and has been the largest single employer in Harford County since at least 1990. The base is still the largest employer in the county, employing more than 21,000 military, civilian and contractor employees, according to the base's website.

“APG is a vital element of our national defense strategy and our military readiness and a key employer in our state,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen in an email to the Baltimore Business Journal. "I’m in contact with both the Army and APG regarding these changes, and I’ll be seeking more information on these decisions."

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – The commanding general of the nation’s premier Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command was promoted to major general during a ceremony on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, Dec. 14.

Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood, the commanding general of 20th CBRNE Command, pinned on his second star during the widely attended ceremony at the Myer Auditorium.

Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, the commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command, hosted the ceremony.

Part of U.S. Army Forces Command, the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland-headquartered 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the active-duty Army’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, five Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams and three Nuclear Disablement Teams.

From 19 bases in 16 states, Soldiers and U.S. Army civilians from 20th CBRNE Command take on the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and allied operations.

Hood is the ninth commanding general of the 20th CBRNE Command. Before assuming command in September 2022, Hood served as the deputy director of operations for Team Four at the National Joint Operations Intelligence Center in the Pentagon where he routinely interacted with Poppas who served as the director of the Joint Staff at the time.

Poppas said that Hood had proven himself throughout his storied career from his early days as an enlisted Soldier to commanding the nation’s premier CBRNE formation.

“You talk about a storied career. He’s been from the tactical to the strategic level,” said Poppas. “At every step, he has learned, he has mentored and he has excelled.”

Poppas said that Hood has made every command he served at better while molding future leaders.

“That is the sign of a leader,” said Poppas. “That’s why we are putting a second star on him right now.”

Great Army families make great Army leaders, said Poppas, adding that Hood epitomized the leadership and character needed in a strategic Army leader.

“It starts well before you put the uniform on,” said Poppas. “When you look at the depth of character that General Hood always displays, I will tell you that starts from home.”

Hood is a U.S. Army Chemical Corps officer who is originally from Athens and Gainesville, Georgia. He previously served as the 31st chief of Chemical and commandant of the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School on Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Hood has served in a wide variety of command and staff tours in the United States, Europe, South Korea, Middle East and Central Asia.

Hood commanded the 3rd Chemical Brigade; 110th Chemical Battalion; and 87th Chemical Company, 4th Squadron (Aviation), 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Since assuming command of the 20th CBRNE Command, Hood has focused on people, readiness and modernization.

During the ceremony, Hood thanked his family, friends and mentors for their support throughout his career.

The U.S. Army’s newest two-star general closed his remarks with three questions designed to guide leaders to greater heights.

“What type of leader are you and what do you want to be? What is your destination and purpose in life?” said Hood. “What impact do you have on people?”

ABERDEEN - A tank full of thanks is on its way from Ukraine to Maryland. In an expression of gratitude towards the United States, Ukrainian officials have gifted a Russian T-90 tank to Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Igor Novikov, a former advisor to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, signaled the gift's transit in an April 15 tweet, sharing an image of the tank headed to Maryland.

The tank, transported by truck, made a surprise appearance in Louisiana when a breakdown led to a temporary roadside display. This unexpected spectacle quickly gained attention on social media before being reported by The War Zone, a military news outlet.

According to War Zone, the shipping route was revealed on a label on the tank's main gun, tracing its path from Gdynia, Poland, to Beaumont, Texas, with the final destination being Aberdeen Proving Ground, home to the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center.

Department of Defense spokesperson, Sue Gough, confirmed to Baltimore Fishbowl that the tank was indeed bound for Aberdeen when the truck transporting it faced mechanical issues.

"I can confirm that a T-90 tank was being transported to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, when the truck transporting it suffered a mechanical issue. That issue has been fixed, and the item is secure. The tank's explosive reactive armor was inert; it was not armed or carrying any dangerous material and at no point posed a risk to the public. This is part of our ongoing commitment to provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to counter Russian aggression. For security reasons, we will not comment further on this matter," Gough told the Fishbowl.

APG is one of the country's most extensive and best-equipped testing facilities, signaling that the tank is more than a gift. The Baltimore Sun spoke to Michael E. O'Hanlon, a senior fellow and director of research in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, who told the news service that the tank will likely be used for testing.

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"All of that information would be very tactically useful if you were figuring out what to send the Ukrainians and also how to train the Ukrainians on the use of proper anti-armor weapons," O'Hanlon told The Sun.

More News from Havre de Grace

Leaders from the U.S. Army’s only deployable medical field laboratory recently met with medical officials and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear experts from the Polish Armed Forces.

The command team from the 1st Area Medical Laboratory visited Poland in support of the U.S. Army Europe-Africa Surgeon Cell’s regional engagement efforts.

During the week-long visit, 1st AML leaders toured the Polish Epidemiological Response Center and Military Institute for Chemistry and Radiolog. Both Polish organizations have similar missions to the 1st Area Medical Laboratory.

The 1st AML leaders also toured the laboratory facilities at the Polish Military Institute of Medicine – National Research Institute in Warsaw, Poland, and the biological and chemical labs at the Military Preventive Medicine Center in Modlin, Poland.

Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, the 1st Area Medical Laboratory identifies and evaluates health hazards through unique medical laboratory analyses and rapid health hazard assessments of nuclear, biological, chemical, endemic disease, occupational and environmental health threats.

From Australia and South Korea to Canada and Germany, the 1st AML works with allied forces around the world. The 1st Area Medical Laboratory is part of the 44th Medical Brigade and 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. military’s premier multifunctional all hazards formation.

American Soldiers and Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command take on the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and allied operations.

Lt. Col. Nick Nussdorfer, the force health protection officer in the Office of the Command Surgeon for U.S. Army Europe-Africa, said 1st AML brings one-of-a-kind capabilities that increase interoperability with allies and partners.

“U.S. Army Europe-Africa appreciates the force health protection expertise that 1st AML provides the theater,” said Nussdorfer.

Maj. Suzanne E. Mate, chief of Chemical Threat Assessment for 1st Area Medical Laboratory, said meeting with allies helps to keep NATO ready for any contingency.

“It’s better to know your partners before you have to work together in a high-consequence situation. We learned the strengths in different mobility platforms for laboratories and the capabilities within fixed scientific institutions to maintain standards and currency in chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) investigations,” said Mate.

“This knowledge is invaluable when determining how to move a sample quickly and efficiently to characterize a suspected CBR threat when airlift resources are constrained or country treaties prevent movement activities,” said Mate.

A graduate of George Washington University, Mate has served in the Army for 15 years as both an enlisted and commissioned soldier, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Health. Mate, a Medical Service Corps officer who served on a response team during the 2015-2017 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, said the visit helped to forge stronger ties with 1st AML’s Polish counterparts.

“We gained an understanding for our NATO partners’ focus on biomedical and CBR topics unique to their geographic region,” said Mate. “In addition, by touring their biomedical and CBR institutions, we gained knowledge for resources to process environmental samples, which enables our scientists to discuss procedural options to investigate suspected threats.”

Mate said the 1st Area Medical Laboratory invited their Polish counterparts to Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Detrick in Frederick County, to see their facilities.

Col. Matthew J. Grieser, commander of 1st Area Medical Laboratory, said the visit was an example of how his one-of-a-kind command supports alliance partners around the world.

“It was a great opportunity to meet our Polish counterparts and to learn from one another,” said Grieser, a native of Mulino, Oregon, who has deployed to Afghanistan four times and Iraq five times. Grieser also served in Haiti, Panama, and New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

“We intend to continue to strengthen this relationship with our Polish counterparts,” said Grieser. “Poland is a great ally and it was an honor to visit our counterpart organizations.”

Lt. Col. Lukasz Krzowski, the Polish Armed Forces coordinator for the visit, said collaboration is the key to success in high stakes CBRN missions.

Krzowski said the visit introduced unit tasks, capacities and capabilities in biodefense and preventive medicine, adding that it also helped to define areas for field detection and identification of naturally occurring or intentionally released infectious diseases as well as chemical or radiological hazards.

A former soldier of the Epidemiological Response Centre (ERC) of the Polish Armed Forces, Krzowski is assigned to the Biodefense Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Centre in The Military University of Technology and still collaborates with the ERC in the areas of biodefense and preventive medicine.

“This visit will start collaboration in biodefense and other hazards in the chemical or radiological area. That means our future collaboration activities will increase our knowledge and procedures and lead to improved areas of interoperability between our nations,” said Krzowski.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – A service member’s home should be their “safe place” – a place to relax and enjoy time with their family. Accidents happen every day, and children are the most vulnerable to housing hazards or unsafe circumstances. Parents should be aware of the potential hazards and protect their family by removing the hazards, locking or blocking child exposures to the hazards and educating children about the hazards.

In honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month, Defense Centers for Public Health–Aberdeen experts offer some advice and resource recommendations to help parents create a safe and hazard-free home environment.

“Toddlers or very young children can accidentally access many items in or around their home that can result in serious injury or even death,” says Jouelle Lamaute, public health nurse with DCPH-A. “Parents should routinely look around their home to ensure hazardous products are locked away, and that furniture, toys and other products do not have safety recalls.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports the top 5 hidden hazards in the home include:

• Magnets that are swallowed. • Recalled safety products (e.g., furniture, toys, child seats, clothing). • Windows (blinds and cords). • Furniture tip overs. • Pools and spas (drains with suction).

Lead Poisoning and Other Military Housing Concerns

Lead can cause serious developmental and behavioral problems in children and the fetuses of pregnant women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect learning, ability to pay attention and academic achievement. While effects of lead exposure may be permanent, if caught early there are things parents can do to prevent further exposure and reduce damage to their child's health. Lead may be present in several sources in the home that parents should consider:

• Primary sources of lead exposure include drinking water from old lead pipes and plumbing fixtures and in paints found in houses before 1978. If lead paint is covered by newer paint, exposure can still occur from chipping or dust during renovations. • Lead has been found in metal and plastic toys, especially some imported toys, antique toys and toy jewelry. These items may be chewed on by infants and toddlers. • Lead can also be found in other antique, vintage and traditional non-toy items. • Lead and other heavy metals may be found in certain in baby foods.

“One exposure source I’ve seen come up is related to the use of ceramic food/serving dishes that have contributed to elevated pediatric blood lead levels,” said Rebecca Hughes, an industrial hygienist with DCPH-A’s Industrial Hygiene Field Services Division. “Some of the glazes on traditional pottery contain a lead compound that can leach into foods when the pottery is not manufactured properly.”

The Food and Drug Administration offers more information on lead-glazed traditional pottery.

A child may be exposed to lead from more than one source, and they may not have visible signs or symptoms. A blood lead test is the best way to find out if a child has lead poisoning. During a blood lead test, a small amount of blood is taken from the finger, heel or arm and tested for lead.

While there is no safe level of lead in a child's blood, the CDC and the Army currently use a blood lead reference value of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter to identify children with blood lead levels that are higher than those of most children in the United States.

Hughes says an excellent resource for parents is the CPSC safety guide for childproofing the home.

“The best thing a homeowner or resident can do when encountering lead, mold or other hazards is to address them early,” said Hughes. “That means if they live in military family housing, report peeling/damaged paint, water leaks or damage before mold begins to grow, or any other problem as soon as it is noticed. And keep advocating to have it repaired.”

Hughes says residents may even be able to handle small repairs/cleanups and some housekeeping items themselves to prevent a problem or prevent a small problem from becoming a more serious issue.

“If the scope of the problem becomes large and requires a professional, make sure to hire qualified professionals and ask for references,” said Hughes.

Medicine and Household Poisonings

Hundreds of U.S. children are seen in emergency rooms each year due to accidental ingestion of household products (cleaning products, hand sanitizers, detergent pods, car fluids, medicines) or accidental overdoses of medicine given to them by a caregiver. The Poison Control Center Hotline, 1-800-222-1222, is a useful reference to save in your cell phone.

Here are a few tips you can find on the DCPH-A Child Safety Hazards page:

• The Environmental Protection Agency has an interactive “Household Hazards Hunt” learning tool on their website to help educate your child about some common hazards. • Before giving your child medications, read labels to ensure proper child dose and possible interactions. • Dispose of unneeded products and lock up or move those you need to hard-to-reach locations. • Save the Poison Control Center Hotline on your cell and on/near every phone in your home. o Call Poison Control if you think a child has been poisoned and if they are awake and alert. o Call 911 if your child has collapsed or is not breathing.

Hughes says her team does not play a direct role in assessing or assisting residents with environmental hazard assessments of homes but occasionally does take calls from residents.

“Our team often provides consultative support to installation housing offices, departments of public works and the local health departments while they are handling environmental housing concerns and assisting residents,” said Hughes. “On occasion, we have had the opportunity to speak directly with a resident and answer some of their questions and connect them with the installation personnel who can perform these housing assessments. It’s important that everyone have access to safe and healthy housing.”

Safe is Strong

The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, part of Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, launched a “Safe is Strong” project this summer focused on the health and safety of military families with infants and toddlers. Dr. Stephen Cozza, a retired Army colonel, is a psychiatrist and the associate director of the Child and Family Program at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress. He recently promoted Safe is Strong at the annual summit of the Military Child Education Coalition. One area of home safety Dr. Cozza highlighted was safe firearm storage.

“We know that more than 40 percent of children in active-duty families are under the age of 6, and 75 percent are under the age of 12,” said Cozza. “We really need to be focused on access to firearms.”

Cozza, who was quoted on this issue in Military Times, cited a study of Soldiers in the U.S. which found that 57 percent of Soldiers with children own firearms. According to the study, 20 percent of those Soldiers owning firearms – and whose children in the house were under age 18 – had at least 1 loaded and unlocked firearm in the house. A 2023 study in the Injury Epidemiology journal reported the ongoing problem of accidental shootings of and by children under 15 years of age. According to the journal article, most of these incidents occur in the home, and victims and shooters are often family members or friends. A key study finding is that guns in the home are not secured properly.

The Safe is Strong website includes a link to an article on healthychildren.org, which highlights the risk of not storing firearms safely and provides recommendations for their safe storage. Military OneSource also offers several recommendations for safely handling guns and ammunition in the home.

In response to health concerns arising from environmental hazards found in military housing, the Defense Health Agency maintains a “Health and Housing” page on their Health.mil website with resources for each military service branch, as well as articles and informational links.

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