Plan. Partner. Maintain. The Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region Commander's Conference took place at the Jacob E. Smart building on Joint Base Andrews, Md. on Aug. 08, 2016.  Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker, commander of Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington (JFHQ-NCR/MDW), hosted the conference and stressed the importance of continuity with his opening comments.

"It's critically important as folks rotate out and new folks come in that we get together and get to know each other," Becker said. "Because if something happens here, whether it's a national special security event and something goes wrong or an unforeseen crisis, it's the folks in this room that are going to come together to provide that support to civil authorities to try and get things back together."

Air Force District of Washington commander Maj. Gen. Darryl M. Burke provided the venue for commanders and their staff from all services and the National Guard in the Military District of Washington. The conference agenda consisted of briefs and discussion about previous conferences, force protection, and the current focus, inauguration preparation. Col. Robert Weir, Washington D.C. National Guard deputy chief of staff operations, briefed the gathered leaders on the composition and capabilities of the D.C. National Guard.

"We're looking to have close to 7,000 Soldiers and Airmen participating, that means it's Joint Force Headquarters D.C.'s responsibility to plan, coordinate, integrate and maintain a unity of effort for all the states supporting us during this inauguration," said Weir.

The final briefing of the conference was specifically focused on the 2017 presidential inauguration. Mr. Mike Wagner, chief of national events planning U.S. Army Military District of Washington, provided an opportunity for the attendees to benefit from his 44 years of experience in a proud tradition of support.

“The upcoming inauguration will be Mr. Wagner’s eleventh,” said Air Force District of Washington command chief executive Staff Sgt. Holly Mason. “His brief definitely left an impression.”

The U.S. military has provided inauguration support since April 30, 1789 for President George Washington. Since the first inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953, that participation has been formalized into a committee that we now identify as the Joint Task Force National Capital Region (JTF-NCR). The men and women of the JTF-NCR will continue to come together and provide the force protection, security, and ceremonial support that American citizens have depended upon for over 200 years.