Maryland Life Inserts for DRS Defense Solutions

SALUTE TO THE MILITARY | MARYLAND LIFE 1

A special supplement to

TO THE MILITARYsalute

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Soldiers at Aberdeen Proving Ground salute the colors. PHOTO BY MIKE MORGAN

Sponsored by

2 MARYLAND LIFE | SALUTE TO THE MILITARY

OPERATION MENDHealing the Wounds of War with Reconstructive Surgeries for U.S. Service Members

Operation Mend is a pioneering program that treats U.S. military personnel that have been wounded and disfigured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Established in 2007, Operation Mend combines the best of the military’s resources with the skilled doctors and staff at UCLA Health System. The goal is to give returning service members with severe facial injuries access to the private sector’s best plastic surgeons, located at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.The uncompensated costs associated with the reconstructive surgeries and follow-up care can be as high as $500,000 per patient. DRS Technologies is pleased to support these efforts for the men and women of our armed forces.

Contribute online at www.drsfoundation.net


DearFriends:

ThemenandwomenoftheU.S.armedforcesandtheirfamiliesserveourcountryyear

afteryear,twentyfourhoursaday,sevendaysaweek.Theirserviceandsacrificemakeour

nationstrongerandtheworldasaferplace.

OnthisMemorialDay,itisimportanttorememberthosewehavelost,andhonor

thosewhoworktirelesslyforourcountry.IamsoproudoftheMarylandersservingas

activedutymilitaryorinacivilianrole,andourveterans,whohavededicatedtheirlivesto

protectingourcountryandourfreedoms.

I’malsoproudofMaryland’sleadershipinournationalsecurityanddefense.Maryland’s

eightmilitarybasestrulyarenationalassets.Theyarecentersofexcellenceinournational

securityandmilitaryreadinessatthecuttingedgeoftechnologyinthefieldsofcyber

security,medicalcare,biodefense,andaviationtechnology.

AndwiththeheadquartersofciviliandefenseagenciessuchastheNationalSecurity

AgencyandDefenseInformationSystemsAgencieslocatedinMaryland,ourstatetruly

istoday’sgloballeaderindefense.WealsotraintheleadersoftomorrowattheU.S.Naval

AcademyinAnnapolis.

Thisyearinthefieldofcybersecuritywewelcomedthere-establishmentoftheNavy’s

10thFleetwiththeNavyFleetCyberCommandatFt.Meade.Thismeansnewjobsfor

MarylandandwillshowcaseMaryland’sknow-howandcan-dospiritasweworktodefend

theUnitedStatesagainstthecomplexandevolvingattacksbyhackersandcyberspiesthat

ournationfaceseachday.

Evenasweleadindefense,weshowoverandoveragainthatwealsoleadinheart.

IntheaftermathofthedevastatingearthquakeinHaiti,Marylandacceptedthecallfor

help.OurveryownUSSComfortsetsailfromthePortofBaltimoreandMaryland’sAir

NationalGuarddeployedfromMartinStateAirBasetoprovidereliefandmedicalcare

inPort-au-Prince.IamsoproudofwhatMarylandandMarylandershavedoneandwhat

theycontinuetodotohelpsavelivesinHaiti.Marylandhasansweredthecallforhelpwith

extraordinarycapability,kindnessandverve.

EverydayIthinkaboutthemenandwomenriskingtheirlivesoverseasastheystand

sentryonthefrontlinesofourdefense.Ithinkoftheirfamiliesandtheirlovedones.They

areinmyprayersforasafereturnhome.

Werememberthosewhohavepaidtheultimatepriceforourcountry’sfreedom.We

thankallveteransfortheirservicetoourcountry.IsaluteourMarylandmilitary–past,

presentandfuture,andpromisetofightforyouandforthestate.Notwithjustonepieceof

legislation,notjustforonedayoftheyear,butinallthatwedoeveryday.

ThankyouandGodblessyou,

BarbaraA.Mikulski

UnitedStatesSenator

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DearReader,

ItisanextremehonortobepartofMarylandLife’sspecialSalutetotheMilitary.The

peopleofDRSDefenseSolutionsareproudtosponsorthisissueandbecountedamong

thosewhoareapartofMaryland’svitaldefensefabric.Asasupplierofcriticalelectronics

andequipmenttothewarfighterandpeacekeeper,wearefocusedonbringingthebestthat

industryhastooffertohelpthemperformtheiressentialmissions.

AsoutlinedinSen.Mikulski’smessage,Marylandisaleaderinnationalsecurityand

homelanddefense.Weallcantakeprideinthatposition.

Thiseditionisatributetothosewhoselflesslyserveinourarmedforcesandisa

tremendoustestimonytothespecialconnectionbetweenourmilitaryandthestateof

Maryland.Wesaluteourmenandwomeninuniformofallservicesandtheirfamilies.

Theyprotectus.Theytrulydeserveourgratitudeandsupport.

Asyoureadthefollowingstories,Iwanttoespeciallypointouttwoorganizationsthat

deserveyourattention:FisherHouseFoundationandOperationMend.

FisherHouseFoundationsupportsAmerica’smilitarybyprovidingahomeawayfrom

homeenablingfamilymemberstobeclosetoalovedoneatamoststressfultime--during

hospitalization.HeadquarteredinRockville,FisherHouseFoundationbuildsanddonates

homestobeusedfortemporarylodgingwhileamilitarymemberreceivesmedicalcare.

FisherHousesallowfamiliestostaytogether.Currentlythereare45FisherHouseslocated

on18militaryinstallationsand15VAmedicalcenters.Twelvemorehousesareunder

constructionorindesign.

OperationMendisaprojectthatoffershopeandhealingtothosesufferingcasualties

whileservinginIraqandAfghanistan.ThroughauniquecollaborationbetweenBrooke

ArmyMedicalCenterinSanAntonio,Texas,andUCLAMedicalCenterinSouthern

California,OperationMendensuresthatourwoundedwarriorsreceivethebestcarethat

themilitaryandprivatesectorcanoffer.Theprogramfocusesonreconstructivesurgery

followingburnsandrelatedtrauma.

Ipointoutthesetwoorganizationsbecausetheyillustratehowthosewhogavetheir

bestforourcountryreceivethebestinreturn.Further,theemployeesofDRSDefense

Solutionssupporttheseorganizationsasawaytohonorourreturninginjuredsoldiers.

Thankyoutothosewhoserve.Youareappreciated.

RichardS.DanforthPresidentandCEODRSDefenseSolutionsBethesda,Maryland

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Thanks to Internet Cafés, home is just a mouse-click away

CHRISTINE REINHART LUGS TWO STUFFED ANIMALS WITH HERtoworkatMcCormick&CompanyinHuntValleyeveryday.Thevoiceinthewell-lovedbearandmonkey,whichcanbeactivatedbytappingthepaws,belongstoherson,20-year-oldBrandon,whowasdeployedtoAfghanistanlastyearonherbirthday…andMother’sDay,May11.

WhileReinhartholdstighttotheseinanimateremindersofherson,itisthefactthatshecantalklivewiththerealBrandonnearlyeverydayforwhichsheismostgrateful.

WhenBrandonwasfirstdeployed,heonlyphonedhomesporadicallybecauseofthepoorqualityoftheconnectionandtheexpenseofusingpre-paidphonecards.

Nowhe,likeotherdeployedtroops,hasaccesstoanInternetCafé,aningeniouswayforservicemenandwomenstationedoverseastostayconnectedtotheirlovedonesathomeviatheInternetandtelephones.

Thistypeofimmediatelinkisinvaluable.“Wemothersprotectourchildren,weshield

themandhelpthemtomaketherightdecisions,”saysReinhart,whocarrieshercellphonewithhereverywhereincasehersoncalls.“Now,he’sin

harm’sway,andIcan’treallydoanythingforhim,butIcantalktohim.”ThankstoaversatilesystemdesignedbyaDRSDefenseSolutionsbusi-

nessunit--DRSTechnicalServicesInc.(TSI)--insupportoftheSpaceandNavalWarfareSystemsCenter(SPAWAR)Atlantic-EuropeanOffice,InternetCafeshavebecomea21st-century,high-techmailcall.

(DRSTSIisoneoftheworld’slargestsatellitecommunicationproviderstotheDepartmentofDefense;itusessatellitebandwidthtohelpconnectpeople,organizations,andthemilitaryworldwide.SPAWAR,amemberoftheNavalAcquisitionEnterprise,designs,develops,anddeploysadvancedcommunicationandinformationcapabilitiesforthemilitaryworldwide.)

CurrentlylocatedateverymajorU.S.militarybaseworldwide—includ-ingnearly600activesitesinIraqand200inAfghanistan—thesecaféscertainlyhelpservicememberstakepartinmilestoneevents,suchasabirthoraschoolgraduation.Butequallyimportantistheconnectionitgivesthemtoeverydayevents—likebankingonlineorhelpingaspousegethercarrepaired—24hoursaday,sevendaysaweek.AndthankstothelowcostofVoiceoverInternetProtocol(VoilP)calls,theservicemembermaynotfeelquitesorushedduringtheirconversations.

“Thisabilitytostayinvolvedinfamilylifeandtorespondquicklywhenneededmakesahugedifferenceinthestresslevelsofsoldiers,airmen,Marines,andciviliansdeployedtohelpsupportthem,”explainsDRSprogrammanagerDarinMcCloy,whoisstationedattheDRSVaihingen,Germany,operation.

soldiers stay connected

helping

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Cafés,whichhousefiveto20computersandphones,arelocatedwithintents,sheds,orbuild-ings,andareanchoredbynearlysix-foot-widesat-ellitedishesthatmakecommunicationpossible.Thecaféscanalsobesetupinmerehours.

“Thehardestpartisshippingthemaroundtoacentrallocation,”explainsMcCloy.“Weprovidethegear,butitistheunit’sresponsibilitytogetittothesiteandtosetupthewiringandtelephones.Forthemostpart,theseareyoungkidswhogrewupwithcomputers,andtheycancertainlyplugtheminandturnthemon.Thistypeofself-helpispartofwhatkeepsthecostlow.”

Afterthetroopssetupthecafé,aDRSfieldtechniciancomesintobringthecafé“onair”andtocommissionit.About63DRStechsarecur-rentlydeployedinIraqandAfghanistan.

UnliketheInternetprovidedintheU.S.,theInternetandphoneconnectionsintheseremoteareasaresuppliedbysatellite.

“Thisiscertainlynotthenorm,andbecause[thereisonlysomuchbandwidth]available,wedohavetocontrolcaféaccessandusagetobesurethateveryonegetsanequitableexperienceandaguaranteedlevelofservicesothatthereisgoodquality,”explainsMichaelHartman,SPAWAR’sseniorprogrammanagerfortheMorale,WelfareandRecreation(MWR)InternetCafés.

Whileciviliansmayhaveoccasionaltroublewithadisconnectedcableoramodemissue,

moreunusualproblemsmayplaguecaféusers.“Sandstormsandwindscanaffectthecon-

nection;infrastructurescanbe[damaged];ortroopsmayrelocateandtakethecaféwiththem,”explainsHartman.“Thetroopswillsetitbackupasbesttheycan,andcallusifatechisneededtosetupadishorre-calibrate.”

Fortunately,staffattheNOCisavailabletohelp24/7,saysMcCloy.“Wemonitorthenetwork,teleports,andsatellitesatthreedifferentlocationsinGermany,Italy,andinGreece.”

Techniciansalsomonitorandcheckthehelpstatusineverycafédeployed.

“Techniciansonwatchcanloginremotelyandanalyzeandsolveissuesquickly,”saysMcCloy.“Ifwegetacalloremailaboutatroubleinthefield,wetrytorespondwithinanhour,andwedoourbesttogetitresolvedimmediately.”

SincemostoftheSPAWARandDRSstaffmembershavepreviousmilitaryexperience,theyunderstandtheimportanceofquicklyestablishingandmaintainingthesecommunicationsystems.

“Weknowtheseguysareouttheretalkingtotheirkids,parents,andwives,andthatit’satraumaticexperiencewhenthe[lines]godown,”explainsMcCloy,aretiredMarine.“Ourtechni-cianshavethegreatestjobs,becausewhentheyshowup,theyareheroes.”

Headds,“Troopshavedeployedsooftenthattheyknowhowtofindus,andifacaféisn’tthere,

theywillsendusanemailtoaskwhatneedstobedone.TheSPAWARfolksknowwhatneedstogetdoneandmakesurethetroopsgetconnectedtohome.”

TO HELP TROOPS CONNECT to their loved ones back home, several organizations, includ-ing the Veterans of Foreign Wars, sponsor “free call” days. And to show their support for Haitian-American military families dealing with the aftereffects of the recent earthquake near Port-au-Prince, DRS and SPAWAR have suspended charges for calls from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom troops to Haiti.

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EARLIER THIS SPRING, NELLIE BAGLEYworriedlykissedhersonandthenpreparedhimforanowcommonoccurrence:undergoingmajorsurgeryattheNationalNavalMedicalCenterinBethesda.

OnMarch1,2006,herson,StaffSergeantJosePequeno,amilitarypolicemaninIraq,wasblownoutofaHumveeduringagrenadeattack.

“Whenthemedicsarrived,theythoughtmysonwasdead,”saysBagley.“Hiswholeleftsidewasshattered.Thedriverhaddiedinstantly.”

Becauseoftheextentofhisinjuries,includingseverebraintrauma,Pequeno,now36,hasspentmuchofthepastfouryearsinmilitaryhospitalsunderthecareofdoctorsdesperatelytryingtoimprovethequalityofhislife.

“Yourwholeworldturnsupsidedown;youloseapieceofyourself,andyounevergetitback,”saysBagley.“Whenyougothroughsomethinglikethis,youloseallsenseofnormalcy.”

Youalsoloseallsenseofhome.AlthoughBagleywaslivinginNewHampshire

in2006,shelefteverythingbehindtobeatherson’shospitalbedside,nomatterwherehewasadmitted—inMaryland,DC,Boston,orFlorida.Now,shesays,“Homeiswherevermysonis.”

Inseveralplaces,shestayedonthefloorofPequeno’shospitalroomorinahotel.But,withonlyherdaughterElizabethforsupportandlimitedfunds,Bagley’soptionswerequicklyrunningout.

fisher house is home

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(Standing) David Broome and Kimberly Bennett

(Seated) Elizabeth and Nelida Bagley and Merlin, the dog

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Fortunately,shefinallyconnectedwiththeFisherHouse.

Today,Bagleyhasa“homeawayfromhome.”TheFisherHouseonStokesRoadinBethesda

isoneofthreecurrenthomesinMarylandand45nationwide,allofwhicharelocatedincloseprox-imitytomajormilitaryandVAmedicalcenters.TwomoreFisherHousesareunderconstructioninMaryland,andmanymorearebeingbuiltnationwide.

FoundedbyZacharyandElizabethFisherin1990,theFisherHouseProgramisaprivate-publicpartnershipthatprovidesthefoodandcomfortsofhome,freeofcharge,toAmerica’sactiveandretiredmilitaryandtheirfamiliesduringmedicalcrises.

Dependinguponitssize,eachFisherHouse(whichhasbeendonatedtothemilitaryandDe-partmentofVeteransAffairsbytheFisherHouseFoundation)canhousebetweensevenand20families.Amenitiesincludeprivatebedroomsandbathsandsharedkitchens,laundryrooms,anddiningandlivingareas.Quietquarterstomeditate,torest,ortoplay—likethefishpondattheStokesRoadhome—arecommon.

“Thisisonewayofgivingbacktothesemenandwomenwhomakegreatsacrificesforus,whomakeusfree,andwhodefenduseveryday,”explainsFisherHousemanagerBeckyWood,whosepassionforherjobanddedicationtothesefamiliesstemsfromafeelingthat“weneedtodomorethanjustsaythankyoutothemenandwomenwhoserve.”

WhileFisherHouseisintendedformembers

ofallmilitaryfamiliesinneed,includingparentswithprematureinfantsandretireeswithcancer,woundedwarriorsdoreceivetoppriority.

InMaryland,becauseoftheproximitytotheBethesdamedicalcenterandWalterReedArmyMedicalCenterinWashington,DC,manyfamiliesaretendingtosoldierswhohavereturnedfromIraqandAfghanistanwithmissinglimbsand/ortraumaticbraininjuries.

“Familiesaretriagedsothatthosewiththegreatestneeds,betheyfinancial,emotional,orthegravityofillness,getaroomfirst,”explainsWood,oneoftwopaidFisherHouseemployees.

“Thisisthebestthingthatcouldhaveeverhappenedtous,”proclaimsBagley,whosesonwasabletostayattheFisherHousewithherandherdaughterbeforehissurgery.“Youneedaplacewhereyoucanfeelnormal,torelaxandhaveacupoftea,andtocry,butnotatthehospitalinfrontofeverybody.”

BagleyalsoappreciatestheclosetiessheshareswithotherfamilieswhoarestayingatFisherHouse.

“Nobodyknowswhatwearegoingthroughunlesstheyareinourshoes,”shesays.“Youlosesomuchandyouhavesuchstress,but[theotherfamiliesandI]cantalkaboutitsothatwedon’tfeelsoalone.”

Woodunderstandsthissentiment.“Thereisarealbondthathappenswiththese

families,”shesays.“Intheevening,aftereveryonehasreturnedfromvisitingtheirlovedoneatthehospital,andwhentheyareallwatchingTVorplayinggames,youcan’ttellwhereonefamilyendsandthenextbegins.”

FISHER HOUSE INSPIRES FURTHER GIVINGNorth Carolina National Guardsman Dale Beatty was so inspired by his stay at Maryland’s Fisher House that he became the first recipient of its services to become a Fisher House Foundation trustee. He also began his own non-profit organization to help other wounded veterans.After losing both his legs below the knee during his deployment in Iraq, Beatty was transferred to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His wife and two young sons were able to stay at a Fisher House during his 35-day hospitalization. For the 11 remaining months of his outpatient treatment, he stayed at Fisher House with them.

“By the time we left, my youngest son had lived over half of his life at Fisher House,” says Beatty, 32, who started Purple Heart Homes with Staff Sergeant John Gallina, who was injured in the same explosion that took Be-atty’s legs. Their new charity will assess wounded veterans’ homes and then facilitate the reconstruction, remodeling, or renovations needed to make the homes as accessible as possible.

For more information, visit www.phhnc.org.

Want to help? Each Fisher House is run by two paid staff members and helped by a corps of military and non-military volunteers. Community members also regularly donate non-perishable items, drop off movies and books, and decorate the house during holidays. To find out the best way to help, please call 301-295-5334 or 301-981-1243.

Text “HERO” to 40579 to donate $10 to the Fisher House Foundation. This text number can be tailored to track a specific corporate campaign or a single event. Visit www.fisher-house.org for more information.

The Fisher House Foundation is a nationally recognized, premier nonprofit with a four-star Charity Navigator rating and an A+ from the American Institute of Philanthropy. Of the 39 military/veterans charities rated in the December 2009 report, only four received an A+. President Barack Obama gave the largest portion of his Nobel Peace Prize award, a $250,000 grant, to the Fisher House Foundation.

2009 Highlights:Families served – approximately 11,000

Average length of stay – 16 days

Average length of stay for combat casualties – 45-60 days

Saved families more than $12 million in lodging costs, plus food and transportation

More than 75,000 hours of volunteer service

Since 1990:Families served – more than 130,000

Number of lodging days – nearly 3 million

Saved families more than $150 million in lodging costs, plus food

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THROUGHOUT THIS GREAT STATE, patrioticAmericanspassionatelyservetheircountryandfellowcountrymeneveryday.

Astrongbodyofdefenseandaerospaceindus-tryemployeessupportsourArmy,Navy,MarineCorps,AirForce,CoastGuard,andgovernmentagenciesbycreating,improving,anddeployingmilitaryproducts,systems,andservicesthathelpkeepussafe.

AtDRSDefenseSolutions,LLC,headquar-teredinBethesda,employeesarekeenlyawarethattheirjobshelptroopsthwartthreats,re-establishpeace,andrecoverfromdisaster.Theyhaveresponsibilitiesthatmaydirectlyimpactthelives,well-being,andfutureofothers.

“Ouremployeesarededicatingtheirlivesandtheircareerstothebettermentofourarmedser-vices,”explainsRichardDanforth,presidentandCEO,DRSDefenseSolutions.“Wehaveastrongconnectiontotheproductsthatwedesignandbuildbecauseweknowwhoisusingandoperatingthatequipment.”

Awell-keptsecretforyears,awarenessofDRSisgrowing,notonlybecauseofthetragiceventsonourownsoilonSeptember11,2001,butalsosincetheDepartmentofDefense’sBaseRealign-

mentandClosure(BRAC)isbringingchangestothemilitaryinstallationsinourregion.

ThepeopleemployedbytheMontgomeryCountycompanyareexpertsinintelligence,com-munications,avionics,sensortechnologies,controlsystems,security,cyberwarfare,sonar,trainingsystems,satellitecommunications,andunmannedtechnologies.Operationsarenationwide.

Whilesomeemployeesworkdirectlywithwarfightersandpeacekeepershereandabroad,en-gineersandtechniciansatbusinessunitsinGaith-ersburg,Columbia,andStevensvillealsocreateproductsthatprotectanddefendU.S.troopsandtheiralliesonland,bysea,andintheair.

DRS’employeesdesignanddevelopproductsthataredeployedonhigh-profilemilitaryplatformslikedestroyers,tanks,helicopters,jetfighters,cargoaircraft,andsubmarines.Theirintegratedsystemssupportvariousmilitaryplatforms.Sisterunitsproducesustainmentproductsthatsupportmilitaryforces,suchaschemical/biologicaldecontamina-tionsystems.Employeesworkhand-in-handwithallbranchesoftheU.S.armedforces,homelandsecurityforces,andgovernmentandintelligenceagencies.

Theseprogramsincludeintelligencesystemsandsupportsthathelpthwartpotentialterrorist

attacksinIraqandAfghanistan,aswellashere.Theyalsoincludesituationalawarenessoptics,sensordevices,andsonar.OneexampleistheDriverVisionEnhancer(DVE)A-KitsthatareinstalledonArmyandMarineCorpsvehiclessothatdriverscansee—andsurvive—nightdrivingthroughharsh,hazardousconditionswhereminesmaybepresent.

DRSalsoofferstroopstheinvaluableabilitytorespondrapidlyoversatellite,wireless,andlandnetworks,meaningtheycancommunicatewithintheirunit,aswellaswithlovedonesathome.

“Ourmissionistantamounttobeinginthemilitary,becauseourjobistoprovidethebestcapabilitiestotheworld’sbestfightingforceandtomakesureitworksflawlesslyeverysingletimetokeepthesepeoplealive,”explainsDanforth.

AwhollyownedsubsidiaryofDRSTechnolo-gies,Inc.,DRSDefenseSolutionsiscomprisedofsevenbusinesslines,withover3,000employeesworldwide.DRSTechnologies,Inc.,isawhollyownedsubsidiaryofFinmeccanicaS.p.A.,agloballeaderintheaerospace,defense,andsecurityin-dustries,morethan73,000employeesworldwide.In2009,revenueswere$24billion.Formoreinformation,visitwww.drs.com.

DRS

defense solutions Supporting our warriors

on the battlefield

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Bethesda is home to DRS Defense

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Made in Maryland DRS Defense Solutions Products and ServicesDRS Defense Solutions, head-quartered in Bethesda, provides advanced products, services and systems integration in the areas of intelligence and sensor technolo-gies, security, cyber warfare, sonar, communications, electronic warfare, training systems, satellite com-munications, control systems and unmanned technologies. Although business units are scattered across the country, operations in Maryland account for a significant proportion of the business.

In Gaithersburg and Columbia, signals intelligence (SIGINT) is the business focus. DRS is a world leader in providing commercial-off-the-shelf products and custom SIGINT solutions. These solutions leverage more than 45 years of experience in the design, develop-ment and manufacture of a broad range of high performance radio frequency surveillance equipment. Applications, including geo-location, are deployed worldwide by virtually all United States military as will as many allies and prime contractors.

Also made in Maryland are inte-grated recording, processing and special storage systems for the SIGINT, instrumentation, Information assurance and niche telemetry and telecommunications markets. These products target high performance data acquisition, processing, storage and archiving applications.

Elsewhere in Gaithersburg, the sonar business area focuses on undersea warfare systems (UWS) for defense and homeland security applications.

Stevensville is home to the DRS Defense Solutions Advanced Marine Technology Center (AMTC). AMTC is an advanced software products development and marine technol-ogy organization specializing in research and development, design, analysis, and testing primarily for naval applications. Major engineering disciplines and technologies focus on naval architecture, advanced ship design software, hydrodynamics and high performance computing, and marine engineering. AMTC’s mission is to provide high quality and cost effective technical capabilities and solutions for applications on aircraft carriers, surface combatants, submarines, unmanned vehicles, and commercial vessels.

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LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN AND WOMENDRS Defense Solutions – Advancing Technology, Advancing Careers.

DRS Defense Solutions is always looking for talented engineers, program managers, and business development managers with defense and aerospace industry experience, technical degrees, and senior-level military or technical backgrounds.

DRS Defense Solutions is committed to recruiting and retaining the best talent in the defense and aerospace industry. We offer an exciting and chal-lenging work environment, a competitive salary and benefits package, and a business culture that rewards performance. Our culture also fosters innova-tion, high performance, and community involvement. For more information, visit www.drs.com/Careers.

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Reflecting the DRS culture of honoring the military, employees banded together to clean the

Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.


DRS’ CULTURE REFLECTS COMPANY MISSIONAt a recent corporate meeting, DRS executives viewed a short video that left few dry-eyed.

The film featured servicemen and women who have been horribly dis-figured and debilitated by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during their tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But now, these badly burned and injured soldiers are receiving free care from some of the world’s best plastic surgeons at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, thanks to a project, aptly named Operation Mend, which is supported by the DRS Technologies Charitable Foundation. After seeing the video and learning that uncompensated costs for these types of extensive reconstructive surgeries and follow-up care can go as high as $500,000 per patient, DRS executives were further moved by a surprise guest.

Cpl. Aaron Mankin, Operation Mend’s first patient, severely burned after an IED explosion, walked out to demonstrate how far he’d come after more than 50 surgeries.

That night, top management donated more than $400,000 to Operation Mend.“A great deal of our employees have served in the military or have family

currently serving, and this connection is part of our culture,” says Richard Danforth, president and CEO, DRS Defense Solutions.

“We realize the sacrifices that our servicemen and women make for us, and we are committed, from management to hourly workers, because we all realize that this is but a small token compared to what military men and women are doing for us.”

In fact, DRS employees regularly and generously donate and encourage outside contributions to aid military and family members in need.

Besides Operation Mend, DRS employees were instrumental in funding the new National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda by supporting the Intrepid Fallen Heroes fund with a $650,000 donation.

Upon completion, the 72,000-square-foot, two-story facility, which will be dedicated to the research, diagnosis, and treatment of wounded warriors suffering from traumatic brain injuries, will be handed over to the Depart-ment of Defense.

DRS Technology employees hope Operation Mend giving will hit record levels through a company-wide charitable campaign.

In addition to donating money, DRS employees frequently seek ways in which they can honor those who serve. A team at DRS Signal Solutions places boxes by the elevators to solicit cards and goodies (such as food, magazines, comic books, and gum) for military care packages that are shipped off to soldiers overseas. And, last fall, 50 DRS employees banded together to clean the Korean War Veterans Memorial. For more information, visit www.drsfoundation.net.

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HOW MARYLAND DOES MEMORIAL DAYBy Jennifer Tilley

The Free State is bringing out its patriotic swag at these sometimes playful, sometimes somber Memorial Day events happening all over the region. So dab on some sunscreen, put on your red, white, and blue, and get ready to celebrate our nation’s heroes.

CENTRAL REGION“God Bless America” Kids Parade and Ice Cream Social (Middletown)May 29, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.A Memorial Day celebration for all ages! Watch (or participate in) a parade around Middletown Park before kicking back to enjoy an afternoon of fun activities and free ice cream. Middletown Park, Coblentz Road. Call 301-371-6171 or visit www.middletownartsandactivities.com.

Hometown Holidays (Rockville)May 29-31, Sat.-Sun. 1-10 p.m., Mon. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.A weekend full of fun in Rockville: food, games, parades, art, and activities for kids and teens. Rockville Town Center. Call 240-314-8620 or visit www.rockvillemd.gov.

Memorial Day Observance (Gaithersburg)May 30, 2 p.m.Honor our nation’s veterans at Gaithersburg’s holiday observance. Christman Park, 304 W. Deer Park Road. Visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

Memorial Day Parade (Bowie) May 29, 11 a.m.Take pride in America’s heroes at this patriotic parade in Acorn Hill Park on Stonybrook Drive. Call 301-809-3011 or visit www.cityofbowie.org.

BALTIMORE METRO REGIONAnnual Westminster City Memorial Day Parade and Service (Westminster)May 31, 10 a.m.Celebrate Memorial Day with a Main Street parade, followed by a ceremony. Westminster Cemetery, Church Street. Call 410-848-6179 or visit www.carrollcountytourism.org.

Community Memorial Day Service (Westminster)May 30, 1:45-3 p.m.One of the oldest services in Carroll County, fea-turing music by the Wm. F. Myers Band. Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Call 410-848-6179 or visit www.carrollcountytourism.org.


Memorial Day at Fort McHenry (Baltimore City)May 31, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.Celebrate the holiday with poetry readings, a wreath-laying ceremony, flag demonstrations, and historic speeches at the Fort McHenry National Monument. Call 410-962-4290 or visit www.nps.gov.

Military Appreciation Week (Aberdeen Proving Ground)Week of May 16thThis week-long celebration honors those who have served in the U.S. military and culminates with a Military Appreciation Luncheon at Top of the Bay on May 20 at 11:30 a.m. Visit www.harfordchamber.org.

WESTERN REGIONAnnual Sharpsburg Memorial Day Commem-oration & Parade (Sharpsburg)May 29, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Enjoy a wreath-laying ceremony in Sharpsburg’s town square at 11 a.m., followed by the oldest continuous Memorial Day parade in the U.S. from 1:30-3 p.m. Call 301-432-6854 or 301-432-8410.

Boonsboro Memorial Day Parade (Boonsboro)May 30, 1 p.m.Celebrate this patriotic holiday with a wreath-lay-ing ceremony at 1 p.m. and a parade down Main Street at 2 p.m. Call 301-432-5634.

Fillmore Fest (Fillmore)May 29-31This Memorial Day Weekend, enjoy all-day festivi-ties, including a Civil War encampment, box-car races, and lots of other fun activities in the town of Fillmore. Visit www.discoveralleganycounty.com.

EASTERN SHORE REGIONChestertown Tea Party (Chestertown)May 28-31Enjoy activities for the whole family, including a historical reenactment, games, a parade, per-formances, and even a distance run. Held in and

around downtown Chestertown, the event features a cocktail party on Friday, reenactment on Satur-day, and parade on Sunday. Call 410-778-0416 or visit www.chestertownteaparty.org.

Memorial Day Free Skipjack Sails (Cambridge)May 31, noon-3 p.m.Enjoy a short sail on the Nathan of Dorchester at no cost! Free sails will be offered at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Sails depart from Long Wharf in Cambridge. Visit www.skipjack-nathan.org.

Havre de Grace

North Beach

Prince Frederick

Chesapeake Beach

St. Michaels Easton

Centreville

Rock Hall

Chestertown

Elkton

Annapolis

Cambridge

Queenstown

Denton

La Plata

Waldorf

Oxon Hill

Bowie

Wheaton

Gaithersburg Columbia

Randallstown

Hampstead

Westminster

Ellicott City

Baltimore

Rockville

Silver Spring Bethesda

Washington D.C.

Lutherville-Timonium

Towson

Thurmont

Mount Airy Frederick

Aberdeen

Solomons

Salisbury

Princess Anne

Crisfield

Drum Point Berlin Ocean City

Lexington Park

Snow Hill St. Mary’s

City

Severna Park

Glen Burnie

Dundalk

Hagerstown

Potomac

Taneytown

Eldersburg

Cumberland

Oakland

McHenry

Frostburg

Potomac River

Potomac River

Chesapeake Bay

Smith Island

Che

sape

ake

Bay

Tangier Sound

Chinc

otea

gue

Bay

At

lant

ic O

cean

Delaware Bay

Delaware River

Deep Creek Lake

North Branch

Potomac R

iver

Fallston Bel Air

WE

ST V

IRG

INIA

CECIL

KENT

QUEEN ANNE’S

TALBOT

CAROLINE

DORCHESTER WICOMICO

WORCESTER

SOMERSET

VIRGINIA

DELAWARE

NEW JERSEY

HARFORD

BALTIMORE

HOWARD

MONTGOMERY

FREDERICK

WASHINGTON

ALLEGANY GARRETT

PRINCE GEORGE’S ANNE

ARUNDEL

CALVERT

CHARLES

ST. MARY’S

10 MILES

C & D Canal

CARROLL

VIRGINIA

WEST VIRGINIA

PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND MILITARY BASES

Air Force:Andrews Air Force Base—Camp Springs

Army:Aberdeen Proving Ground—AberdeenFort Detrick—FrederickFort Meade—Odenton

Navy:Naval Air Station Patuxent River—Patuxent RiverNaval Station Annapolis—AnnapolisUnited States Naval Academy—AnnapolisNational Naval Medical Center—Bethesda

Fort Detrick

Fort Meade Aberdeen Proving Ground

Naval Station &U.S. Naval Academy

National Naval Medical Center

Andrews Air Force Base

Patuxent River Naval Air Station

Military Vehicles at the Annual Westminster City

Memorial Day Parade and Service

Remembering the fallen at the Annual Sharpsburg

Memorial Day Commemoration


THE MONTH OF MAY ISN’T JUST ABOUT REVELING IN THE

bloomingflowersandthebalmytemperatures.It’salsoabouthonoringourservicemenandwomen,becauseMayisNationalMilitaryAppreciationMonth.

InHarfordCounty,Mayincludesthe33rdannualMilitaryAppreciationWeek,whichhonorsmenandwomenwhopreviouslyservedorcurrentlyserveintheUnitedStatesmilitary.DuringtheweekofMay16,HarfordCounty’sChamberofCommercewillsponsorthispatrioticcelebration.

“ThegoalistofosterastrongercommunityrelationshipbetweenthepublicandAberdeenProvingGround,”saysHarfordCountyChamberofCommerceCEOBillSeccurro.

TheweekkicksoffwithArmedForcesDay,whenAberdeenProvingGroundinvitesthepublictothebasetocelebrate.Activitieswillincludea10-krun,aircraftdemonstrations,andauniformpageant,aswellasotheractivities.

MilitaryAppreciationWeekwillbecappedoffbytheMilitaryAppreciationLuncheononMay21atTopoftheBay,whereawardsforexcellenceinserviceandinthecommunitywillbegiventoservicemembers.

“It’simportantnow—andforthelast33years—torecognizethecommit-mentthatmilitarypersonnelandtheirfamiliesmaketotheircommunityandtheircountry,”saysSeccurro.

FormoreinformationaboutMilitaryAppreciationWeekandthelun-cheon,visitwww.harfordchamber.org.

military appreciation week

Councilman David Craig, Councilman Richard Slutzky, and

County Executive David Craig present proclamations to COL

Jeffrey Weissman, APG Garrison Commander and Major

General Fred D. “Doug” Robinson, Jr., RDECOM Commander.

Military Vehicles on display

at the Top of the Bay.

BY JENNIFER TILLEY


“Let the praise be given not to me,...but to the inspirers (defenders) of the song!” —F S K,

Visit our display at e Gallery Mall, in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, second fl oor and be inspired! Help the NAC celebrate our National Anthem. www.osaycanyousee.org

e NAC, Inc. is a registered (c) organization

years ago, Francis Scott Key captured the events of September th, , in a poem. “� e Star-

Spangled Banner” found its way to become our offi cial national anthem in . Has

there ever been a song dedicated to our country with such unwavering strength?

� at ever invokes the grandeur of patriotism and a thunderous ring of

courage? Each time you hear it remember those military personnel

who have vowed to defend our land of the free and the home of the brave.

Preparing to receive Proclamations, from

left to right: SGM Juanita R. Kruegar, SGT

Benjamin Salazar, Soldier of the Year, SGT

Abigail D. Lentz, Marine of the Year, TSGt

Stevin W. Mountz, Airman of the Year.

16 MARYLAND LIFE | SALUTE TO THE MILITARYPhoto credit: Mollie Miller, U.S. Army

Maryland Life Inserts for DRS Defense Solutions

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