Photo By Erickson Barnes | Col. Katherine Leidenberg formally assumed command of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick...... read more read more
FORT DETRICK, Md. — Col. Katherine Leidenberg formally assumed command of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick on Aug. 25, succeeding Col. Christopher Chung during a change of command ceremony. The ceremony marked the end of Chung’s two-year tenure leading the installation, which supports five cabinet-level agencies with missions ranging from medical research and public health operations to signals and intelligence operations. Col. Harry Hung, acting director of Installation Management Command ID-T2, hosted the event alongside Brig. Gen. Constance Jenkins, commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command and Fort Detrick’s senior commander. Dignitaries in attendance included Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor and representatives from the offices of U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks. The traditional passing of the garrison colors – a tradition as old as the Army itself – formally transferred command authority to Leidenberg. Her first official act was returning the colors to Master Sgt. Tara Laramee, honoring the role of the noncommissioned officer corps. In his farewell remarks, Chung balanced humor with praise for the garrison’s civilian and military workforce. “Service delivery requires people to deliver the service, period,” Chung said, noting that garrison employees – from childcare workers to first responders – embody the Army’s commitment to community. “Your individual contributions are monumental in the grand scheme.” The outgoing commander emphasized his sincere gratitude for the leaders who guided him, the mission partners who supported him, and the community that embraced him. Chung also expressed confidence in Leidenberg’s leadership, telling her that the command’s workforce “will take your guidance and intent and run with it. And they will not disappoint.” Leidenberg, joined by her husband Col. James Leidenberg and daughter, received a warm welcome into the Fort Detrick family. In front of a full auditorium, with a crowd comprised of senior active and retired military personnel, senior Pentagon officials, elected leaders and senior officials from the local community, members of the Fort Detrick workforce, and the family and friends of both Cols. Chung and Leidenberg, the arrival of a new garrison commander was formalized with the reading of Army Regulation 600-20 The event concluded with the singing of the Army Song and a community reception welcoming the Leidenberg family.
| Date Taken: | 08.25.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.01.2026 10:58 |
| Story ID: | 573666 |
| Location: | FREDERICK, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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