I knew APG was home to barrier-shattering innovations that have forged our nation’s history, guiding present-day advancements to keep pace with emerging 21st century threats. What I did not know about was the tight-knit and extraordinary community that fuels this installation.

As I reflect on my service over the last few years, I am reminded of how truly impressive the APG community is, a true hidden gem.

The continued support of Harford, Cecil and Kent counties, and the cities of Aberdeen, Edgewood, Bel Air, and Havre De Grace is nothing short of awe-inspiring. I have had the opportunity to serve all over the world and there is nothing like this area.

I am just one leader in a long list of commanders who have served here, and just as the Army goes rolling along, this area will continue to set the standard for military communities. In the few years since I first arrived, it has become evident that the local population around APG doesn’t just support our soldiers; this community understands that it is an integral part of the collective military family. The success of our teammates on APG is powered by the surrounding area.

Even before I arrived, it was clear that this patriotic group has been committed to our service members and the defense of our nation for over a century. I’m genuinely humbled to know that I may have played a small part in that.

Personally, one of the most memorable moments of my tenure here was witnessing our collective APG team joining forces to host the first ever APG Future Force and Demonstration Days for the local community. Extraordinary coordination went into setting up incredible exhibits and displays from more than 30 Army organizations, recruiting stations, a live fire event, and even a surprise homecoming.

This two-day event welcomed more than 10,000 members of the regional community onto the installation to explore the many different missions we accomplish every day. I am so incredibly grateful as I think about our efforts to connect with and educate people in this area, especially when we have been able to work with young people. The opportunity to work with and mentor the next generation of innovators is truly humbling.

With the support of our community, APG has shown time and time again just how impactful our team can be.

From the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the organizations on APG’s installation have worked to provide critical support for Army operations in Europe, delivering Ukraine with critical C5ISR equipment, training, and sustainment capabilities. C5ISR stands for command, control, computers, communications, and cyber-defense, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

APG organizations have worked hard to establish a forward presence at the Telemaintenance Distribution Center – Ukraine to provide critical radar maintenance support. Supporting multiple radar operator and maintainer training missions by the U.S. Security Assistance Command to Ukraine soldiers.

Since 2023, the organizations of APG have supported both operational and humanitarian efforts in the Middle East.

We have continued to make strides in the cyber and electromagnetic spectrum of modern warfare. Our APG tenant organizations also have provided the vital testing and evaluation needed to prove our constant focus on providing informed equipping decisions for the Army’s soldiers and our allies.

From prospective careers to research and education opportunities, the organizations on APG offer endless possibilities.

In 2024, roughly four years after the COVID-19 pandemic affected the world we knew, APG’s medical organizations have shifted their focus from vaccine health and support to medical logistics sustainment on a transforming battlefield.

The connections between APG’s government and military organizations, industry, and small businesses ensure success at all levels, from right here in APG’s surrounding community all the way out to our brave soldiers who are deployed. Aside from our uniformed personnel, APG is home to generations of scientists, engineers, and technologists deeply rooted in the unique regional energy of Northeast Maryland.

I am more than confident that APG will remain in good hands after my upcoming retirement. I am also incredibly humbled and honored to think that I contributed to APG’s enduring legacy, even for just a few years, recognizing that the installation was here for over a hundred years before me.

My wife, Ellen, and I are now looking forward to a life after serving in uniform. While most in the community know me as the senior leader of APG, our military’s spouses serve our nation in their own way. Ellen has played a tremendous role in my leadership and subsequently the readiness and retention of APG’s forces by being my unwavering support at home. I cannot thank her enough for her steadfast commitment to APG and this community during my tenure as senior commander. We are both looking forward to reconnecting with family, but we will always have a special place in our hearts for APG and the surrounding community.

Your steadfast dedication to our installation, the invaluable partnerships you foster, and your support during my tenure as a leader are deeply appreciated. As our community continues to flourish, always remember to “Be All You Can Be.” ”

U.S. Army Major General Robert Edmonson II has served as the senior commander at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) since July 2021. APG is a U.S. Army facility located adjacent to Aberdeen, Harford County, Maryland, United States, with more than 21,000 Army Civilians, contractors, and military personnel working there.  It is the U.S. Army’s oldest active proving ground.

While I may be new to my role at APG, I am not entirely new to the area. I’m a New Jersey native and completed my undergraduate degree at Frostburg State University. My wife, Ellen, and I are excited to explore all the beautiful towns and scenery that Maryland has to offer as we settle into our new home.

During my tenure, I hope to continue the close relationship that my predecessors have built between APG and the surrounding community. I understand the important role that APG plays in our community — we are the sixth-largest employer in the state of Maryland and the top employer in Harford County — but I also know that APG’s success relies on your support and goodwill. The majority of our workforce at APG — around 21,000 people — are civilians and contractors who live outside of the installation gates. APG Garrison Commander, Col. Johnny Casiano, and I are committed to building stronger ties with our neighbors and community partners. Your support allows us to successfully continue our mission.

APG plays a critical role in supporting our nation and our soldiers, and I hope to create new opportunities for the public to learn about what we do. From innovative military technology development to software cybersecurity to medical logistics, APG houses one of the most impressive ranges of expertise you could find anywhere in the world. I am very proud to assume command over such a talented and diverse workforce.

Thank you for your continued support of our war fighters and APG. People First, Winning Matters, Army Strong!

Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson II is the senior commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground and commanding general of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command.