Photo By Ensign Margaret Taylor | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, the commander of the Maryland National Guard,...... read more read more
TOWSON, Md. – The commander of the Maryland National Guard delivered a keynote address entitled “Leadership Lessons from a Life of Service” to nearly 300 youth and volunteers during a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership seminar at Towson University on June 10.
Army Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, who became the 31st adjutant general of the MDNG on June 5, shared a few highlights from her decades-spanning career and focused particularly on the people who helped her overcome setbacks along the way, whom she called servant leaders.
“A servant leader is just an ordinary person, just like you and me,” she said. “My journey from young second lieutenant to adjutant general would not have been possible without them.”
Birckhead encouraged the youth gathered to remember their mentors and keep those connections alive down the road. She likened maintaining those relationships to using a Rolodex, whether real or figurative.
“Remember the Rolodex when it really gets tough,” she said. “You call somebody and say ‘Hey! Here are the problems I’m having. Can you help me?’”
After her address, she responded to questions from event staff and participants, known as ambassadors. Questions ranged from what books Birckhead would recommend, to how she’s managed to thrive in her career in the face of sometimes entrenched bigotry and bias.
“No matter how much you are challenged, and no matter how much or how many obstacles that come before you, you will and can persevere,” she said. “That’s the thing about service. You are always working to better someone else. You are always working to better your community.”
Birckhead’s involvement with HOBY began several years ago when one of her two children attend a HOBY seminar. Her keynote address came on the third evening of the four-day HOBY Maryland 2023 seminar.
HOBY is an organization created by actor Hugh O’Brian in the late 1950s to foster young leaders. The current format of three- and four-day seminars offered to 10th graders nominated by their high schools was instituted in 1977. HOBY Maryland 2023 had 215 ambassadors from schools across the state and 75 volunteers coordinating events.
| Date Taken: | 06.10.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2023 16:11 |
| Story ID: | 446690 |
| Location: | TOWSON, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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