FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. — Colonel Yolanda Gore relinquished command of U.S. Army Garrison Fort George G. Meade during a ceremony here Thursday, Aug. 6, marking the conclusion of a two-year tenure.
Major General Antoinette Gant, commanding general of Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington, spoke to Gore's leadership of the installation over the last two years.
"A good leader is about to leave, but the number of people here today is a true testament to Yolanda and what she has accomplished during her tenure," Gant said. "You have led with character, with steadiness, and with an unwavering commitment to this installation."
Jason Condrey, Installation Management Command Directorate-Sustainment director, presided over the ceremony and spoke to the unique challenges of commanding a garrison.
"The Army does not train its officers to be garrison commanders—to lead cities," Condrey said. "Instead, it is deliberate in selecting leaders who are capable, innovative, and motivated to handle these unique and complex challenges.”
The ceremony was attended by a robust lineup of distinguished guests. Key attendees included U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth; Maryland State Secretary of Veterans and Miliary Families Ed Rothstein; State Senators Sen. Dawn Gile and Sen. Benjamin Brooks; Howard County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball; State Delegates De. Mark S. Chang, Del. J. Sandy Bartlett and Del. Stuart Schmidt; City of Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad; Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell; Anne Arundel Community College Interim President Dr. Tanya Millner; and Shannetta Griffin, executive director and CEO of Maryland Aviation Administration.
Also in attendance were representatives from federal lawmaker offices, including Jessica Klaitman, representing U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen; Ricky Powell-Graves, representing U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks; and Joseph Pruden, representing U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey. Civic and community support organizations were also represented, including Gina Stewart, Fort Meade Community Covenant chair.
Gore assumed command of the garrison in August 2024. Her tenure was marked by significant community and infrastructure developments, including construction of Freedom Center IV barracks, early reopening of Reece Road, and major shoreline improvements at Burba Lake.
Under Gore's leadership, the garrison also established Maryland's first Intergovernmental Support Agreement with University of Maryland, achieved national accreditation for the Fort Meade Child Development Center, and broke ground on Child Development Center V, a $26 million facility designed to support 232 children. Additionally, Gore oversaw a $100 million base operations contract renegotiation, introduced "Real Talk" community feedback sessions, reinstated installation-wide retirement ceremonies, and managed the garrison's transition to the Military District of Washington command patch in March 2025.
"Serving as the garrison commander of Fort George G. Meade has been a blessing and a curse," Gore said. "It's a blessing because of the people, and a curse because of the times in which we were called to serve. But guess what? We endured."
Gore praised the resilience of the garrison workforce, noting that they successfully kept the base operational despite aging infrastructure, hiring freezes and budget constraints.
"Every single person who kept this garrison running through difficulty did so because they believed in something larger than the obstacle in front of them," Gore said. "That is character. And that is what right looks like."
The event was originally scheduled as a change of command but was changed to a relinquishment of command. Deputy to the Garrison Commander, Brian Foley, will assume responsibilities over the garrison until the assumption of command ceremony is rescheduled.
Gant also addressed the transitional nature of the relinquishment ceremony, noting that the installation's continuity remains secure under Foley’s interim leadership.
"Now, as you notice, this is a relinquishment, which means that now we have Mr. Brian Foley, who’s going to stand in the gap until the [new] commander comes on board," Gant said. "As he raised his hand from being a former garrison commander to now be the deputy to the garrison commander, we know that we’re in good hands.”