United States Army Military District of Washington
United States Army Military District of Washingtonshoulder sleeve insignia
Active	12 March 1862–1869, 1921–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Army Command
Part of	United States Northern Command
Garrison/HQ	Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
Nickname	Guardian of the Nation's Capital
Mottos	Haec Protegimus ("This We Guard")
Website	jtfncr.mdw.army.mil
Commanders
Current commander	BGAntoinette R. Gant
Notable commanders	Harry H. Bandholtz John T. Cole
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

TheUnited States Army Military District of Washington (MDW) is one of nineteen major commands of theUnited States Army. It is headquartered inFort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. The missions of the units in the Military District of Washington include ceremonial tasks as well as a combat role in the defense of theNational Capital Region.

Besides Fort McNair, the following installations are included under the umbrella of the MDW's command:

• Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall, Virginia
• Fort Belvoir, Virginia
• Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
• Fort Meade, Maryland

The Military District of Washington also represents the U.S. Army in theJoint Task Force – National Capital Region (JTF-NCR), as well as oversight of all ceremonial operations inArlington National Cemetery.

The current Commanding General of the Military District of Washington isBrigadier General Antoinette Gant. The Commanding General,Chief of Staff, andCommand Sergeant Major of the Military District of Washington hold the same positions at the JTF-NCR, which supervises military planning for the defense of the National Capital Region.

The MDW can trace its origin back to the American Civil War when it was formed on 12 March 1862, as the Military District of Washington, and it included the areas of the District of Columbia, Alexandria, Virginia, and Fort Washington, Maryland. It was first under the command of Bvt. Major GeneralJames S. Wadsworth.^[1] It became part of theDepartment of Washington under the22nd Army Corps on 2 February 1863 and it was disbanded in 1869.^{[citation needed]}

The MDW was reformed in 1921 when the War Department created the District of Washington. Today MDW is one of the Army's major commands. Its installations includeFort McNair, the nation's third-oldest military post still in use, andFort Myer, Gen. Philip Sheridan's cavalry showplace and site of the first military aircraft flight.^{[citation needed]}

The District of Washington initially includedFort Washington, Md.,Fort Hunt, Va., the District of Columbia and Fort Myer. With the dissolution of the District of Washington in 1927, the commanding general of the16th Infantry Brigade atFort Hunt became responsible for conducting military ceremonies and administering discipline to service members in the nation's capital. In 1936, the Washington Provisional Brigade was organized, thus relieving the 16th Infantry Brigade. The Provisional Brigade was formed around elements of the12th Infantry Regiment,3rd Cavalry Regiment,10th Cavalry Regiment and the16th Field Artillery Regiment.^{[citation needed]}

In 1942, about five months after the U.S. enteredWorld War II, the War Department created the U.S. Army Military District of Washington to plan for a ground defense of the nation's capital.^{[citation needed]}

MDW was headquartered during those years in "temporary" buildings atGravelly Point, Virginia., nearWashington National Airport. It moved to Second Street, S.W., in Washington, D.C., in the early 1960s, and to its present headquarters at Fort Lesley J. McNair in 1966.^{[citation needed]}

During the World War II era, MDW was gradually reorganized as a service-and-support command. One of MDW's main responsibilities was servicing the newly built Pentagon through the Army Headquarters commandant. TheUnited States Army Band, "Pershing's Own," also became an integral part of the command's ceremonial mission during this period.

At the end of World War II, the3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) was deactivated in Germany. This regiment, the oldest U.S. infantry unit, was reactivated in 1948 and assigned to MDW to meet the command's tactical commitments and for military ceremonies.

Although MDW's mission has remained the same, it has gained, lost and regained various installations and support responsibilities over the years.Vint Hill Farms andArlington Hall Station, both in Virginia, andWalter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., were once part of MDW.Cameron Station andDavison Army Airfield, near Fort Belvoir, joined MDW in the 1950s.

In 1980 MDW gained responsibility for the administration and daily operation ofArlington National Cemetery, in addition to the ceremonial support the command has always provided.

In 1987 MDW's support responsibilities for the Pentagon were transferred to theWashington Headquarters Services. Fort Belvoir became a major subordinate command in 1988.

In 1992 Davison Aviation Command was reorganized as the Operational Support Airlift Command, with responsibilities for fixed-wing Army aircraft support throughout the United States. Additionally, they provide rotary-wing (helicopter) support to Army leadership and distinguished officials in the National Capital Region.

In April 1993, MDW reorganized its MACOM staff and the Fort Myer Military Community formed a garrison staff to support Forts Myer and McNair, and Cameron Station.

On 1 October 1993,Fort Meade, andFort Ritchie in Maryland, and A.P. Hill in Virginia joined the MDW family of installations. The command more than doubled in size as MDW went from four posts totaling 9,802 acres (39.67 km²) to eight posts totaling 91,889 acres (371.86 km²). The number of service members and civilians on MDW installations also increased from 16,166 to 61,531.

Cameron Station officially closed on 30 September 1995. Most of the organizations were relocated to eitherFort Belvoir or Fort Myer.

Fort Hamilton, New York, became the newest member of MDW's family of installations when it was transferred to MDW from U.S. Army Forces Command 6 October 1997. The post is 172 years old.

On 10 June 2010, Secretary of the ArmyJohn M. McHugh rescinded MDW's responsibility for the administration and daily operation ofArlington National Cemetery. However, MDW still maintains ceremonial support for funerals and guarding theTomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Military District of Washington is responsible for organizingstate funerals, including those of former presidents.^[2] The Military District of Washington is also responsible for organizingPresidential inaugurations every four years, as well as championship parades for all of Washington's sports teams.

Prior to the 57th Presidential Inauguration, theArmed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC) coordinated theUnited States Armed Forces participation in the ten-day period ofU.S. Presidential Inauguration Day ceremonies. That traditionally includes musicalmilitary units,marching bands,color guards, ushers, firing details, andsalute batteries. AFIC also provides a "very limited amount of approvedlogistical support."^{[citation needed]}

The military has participated in inaugural day ceremonies since PresidentGeorge Washington. Since the first inauguration of PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower in 1953, that participation has been formalized into a committee, originally called theArmed Forces Inaugural Committee.^{[citation needed]}

AFIC was a temporary joint military command established every four years at the direction of theSecretary of Defense. For what became thesecond inauguration of George W. Bush, the committee was established in February 2004. Between then and Inauguration Day itself, the organization grew to about 400 people by December and over 700 people in January 2005.^{[citation needed]}

The ten-day celebration surrounding thesecond inauguration of Richard Nixon in 1973 was impacted by the death of former PresidentLyndon B. Johnson, just two days into Nixon's new term. The remainder of the ceremonies were cancelled, as the military would have to deal with thestate funeral for the nation's 36th president. Because of the inauguration, all the military men who participated in the inauguration participated in the state funeral.^[3]

Current units commanded by the district include;^[4]

• The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own"
• TheUnited States Army Field Band
• Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Company,3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)
  • Caisson Platoon
  • Commander-in-Chief's Guard
  • Continental Color Guard
  • TheOld Guard Fife and Drum Corps
  • Presidential Salute Battery
  • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Sentinals
  • TheUnited States Army Drill Team
  • 1st Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) (Infantry)
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion
    • B Company
    • C Company
    • D Company
    • H Company
    • 1st Battalion Chaplains Group
  • 4th Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) (Ceremonial)
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion
    • 529th Regimental Support Company
    • A Company
    • Honor Guard Company
    • 289th Military Police Company
    • Regimental Fife and Drum Corps
• United States Army Transportation Agency
• The Army Aviation Brigade[1]
  • United States Army Priority Air Transportation (Jet) Detachment
  • 12th Aviation Battalion -Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk VH-60M "Gold Top" variants are heavily modified UH-60Ms used for executive transport. Members of the Joint Chiefs, Congressional leadership, and other DoD personnel are flown on these exclusively by Alpha company 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.^[5]
  • Army Aviation Brigade Airfield Division

A Priority Air Transport helicopter was involved in the 29 January,2025 Potomac River mid-air collision.

The Joint Service Honor Guard is composed of personnel from the official honor guard (see alsohonour guard) units of each uniformed DOD branch. The honor guard units of each of the services are located in or nearWashington D. C., and they form thead-hoc battalion sized unit to represent the entire armed forces at numerous ceremonies of state, mostlyState visits to the United States and the Armed Forces Farewell ceremony to the outgoing President before theUnited States presidential inauguration in January.

The following units make up the battalion:

• Echo Company, 4th Battalion,3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)
• Ceremonial Company A,Marine Barracks Washington
• United States Navy Ceremonial Guard
• United States Air Force Honor Guard
• United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard

Since the early 1940s, the3rd United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) has served as the official escort to the President, additionally providing security for the National Capital Region during national/local emergencies.^[6]

Operationally attached to the ad-hoc battalion are five of themilitary bands and two field music formations designated aspremier ensembles of the entire Armed Forces:

• United States Marine Band
• United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps
• United States Navy Band
• The United States Army Band
• Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
• United States Air Force Band
• United States Coast Guard Band

These bands take turns whenever they are assigned to perform in state ceremonies with the exception of the USMDBC, which, given that it reports directly to the office of theCommandant of the Marine Corps, can only be assigned on similar events upon his discretion. The257th Army Band of theDistrict of Columbia National Guard is occasionally attached if any of the bands are absent.

• Description: On a blue oval 2 7/8 inches in height fimbriated white within a 3/16-inch red border, issuing from a green mount in base fimbriated argent, the Washington Monument of the last superimposed by a red double-handed sword bendwise, fimbriated white, hilt and pommel yellow; all fimbriations 1/32-inch.
• Symbolism:

The functions of the organization are indicated by the double-handed sword, symbolic of protection, over the Washington Monument, representing the area concerned.

The blue represents the Navy and the Infantry; the scarlet the Field Artillery, Coast Artillery and Engineers, and the green and gold the Military Police.

• Background:

1. The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for Military District of Washington on 1942-09-26
2. Redesignated for US Army Military District of Washington on 1971-07-21.

• Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches in height overall consisting of an oval its upper half blue and containing a gold star in the center, the lower half divided into seven stripes alternately white and red. Bordering the bottom of the oval, a semicircular gold scroll inscribed with the wordsHAEC PROTEGIMUS in black, the scroll ends folded twice and forked with the points up below a border of gold oak leaves terminating at either side of a gold acorn with point up at top center, crossed in front two swords their gold hilts emerging from the folds of the scroll and their white blades terminating outside the oak leaf border.
• Symbolism:

The background of the National colors refers to the seat of the government, which lies within the Military District of Washington, with the dome-shaped upper part suggesting the Capitol building.

The Command's responsibilities of conducting ceremonies for the President of the United States and foreign dignitaries, Medal of Honor presentations, military funerals and guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are represented by the gold star.

The oak leaves symbolize strength and courage and the crossed swords indicate the command's mission to defend the Nation's Capital.

The motto translates to "This We Guard."

• Background:

1. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for Headquarters, Military District of Washington on 1968-09-06;
2. Revised to delete Headquarters from the designation on 1968-10-28;
3. Redesignated for US Army Military District of Washington on 1971-07-21.

This list isincomplete; you can help byadding missing items.(July 2021)

No.	Commander		Term
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
–		Brigadier General James S. Wadsworth (1807–1864)	17 March 1862	7 September 1862	174 days
–		Brigadier General Harry Hill Bandholtz	1 September 1921	4 November 1923	~2 years, 64 days
–		Brigadier General Hamilton S. Hawkins III (1872–1951)	5 November 1923	12 February 1924	99 days
–		Brigadier General Samuel Rockenbach (1869–1952)	12 February 1924	12 July 1927	3 years, 150 days
–		Brigadier General George C. Barnhardt (1868–1930)	31 July 1927	23 September 1927	73 days
–		Colonel Guy V. Henry (1875–1967) Acting	23 September 1927	30 September 1927	7 days
–		Brigadier General Thomas Q. Donaldson (1864–1934)	1 October 1927	21 December 1927	81 days
–		Brigadier General Herbert O. Williams	21 December 1927	6 May 1930	2 years, 136 days
–		Colonel Alfred T. Smith (1874–1939) Acting	6 May 1930	7 October 1930	154 days
–		Brigadier General Edgar T. Collins (1873–1933)	7 October 1930	1 February 1932	~1 year, 117 days
–		Colonel James M. Petty Acting	1 February 1932	1 April 1932	60 days
–		Brigadier General Perry L. Miles (1873–1961)	1 April 1932	1 April 1936	~4 years, 0 days
–		Brigadier General Charles D. Roberts (1873–1966)	1 April 1936	30 June 1937	~1 year, 90 days
–		Brigadier General Dana T. Merrill (1876–1957)	1 July 1937	30 November 1938	~1 year, 152 days
–		Brigadier General Maxwell Murray (1885–1948)	1 December 1938	23 June 1940	~1 year, 205 days
–		Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Lyman (1888–1981) Acting	23 June 1940	10 July 1940	~17 days
–		Brigadier General Bruce Magruder (1882–1953)	10 July 1940	10 October 1940	~92 days
–		Brigadier General John N. Greely (1885–1965)	10 October 1940	28 July 1941	~291 days
–		Brigadier General Albert L. Cox (1883–1964)	28 July 1941	14 May 1942	~290 days
–		Lewis, John TaylorMajor General John T. Lewis (1894–1983)	14 May 1942	6 September 1944	2 years, 115 days
–		Thompson, Charles FullingtonMajor General Charles F. Thompson (1882–1954)	6 September 1944	14 July 1945	311 days
–		Young, Robert NicholasBrigadier General Robert N. Young (1900–1964)	14 July 1945	15 June 1946	336 days
–		Ferenbaugh, Claude BirkettBrigadier General Claude B. Ferenbaugh (1899–1975)	15 June 1946	6 November 1947	1 year, 144 days
–		Gay, Hobart RaymondMajor General Hobart R. Gay (1894–1983)	6 November 1947	6 August 1949	1 year, 273 days
–		Cole, John TupperColonel John T. Cole (1895–1975) Acting	6 August 1949	28 February 1950	173 days
–		Herren, Thomas WadeMajor General Thomas W. Herren (1895–1985)	1 March 1950	8 March 1952	2 years, 7 days
–		Wright, Edwin KennedyMajor General Edwin K. Wright (1898–1983)	8 March 1952	26 February 1954	1 year, 355 days
–		Stokes, John H. Jr.Major General John H. Stokes Jr. (1895–1968)	15 April 1954	5 February 1956	1 year, 296 days
–		Van Houten, John GibsonMajor General John G. Van Houten (1904–1974)	6 February 1956	May 1959	~3 years, 84 days
–		Gailey, Charles Kenon Jr.Major General Charles K. Gailey Jr. (1901–1966)	May 1959	May 1961	~2 years, 0 days
–		Gavan, Paul A.Major General Paul A. Gavan (1903–1979)	May 1961	July 1963	~2 years, 61 days
–		Wehke, Philip CampbellMajor General Philip C. Wehle (1906–1978)	August 1963	August 1965	~2 years, 0 days
–		Herrick, Curtis JamesMajor General Curtis J. Herrick (1909–1971)	2 October 1965	31 May 1967	1 year, 241 days
–		O'Malley, Charles S.Major General Charles S. O'Malley Jr. (1913–1993)	1 June 1967	1 September 1969	2 years, 92 days
–		Gleszer, Ronald M.Major General Roland M. Gleszer (1915–2000)	1 September 1969	April 1972	~2 years, 213 days
–		Adamson, James BradshawMajor General James B. Adamson (1921–2003)	1 May 1972	12 November 1973	1 year, 195 days
–		Davison, Frederic EllisMajor General Frederic E. Davison (1917–1999)	12 November 1973	22 September 1974	314 days
–		Fairfield, Ronald James Jr.Major General Ronald J. Fairfield Jr. (1919–2014)	22 September 1974	1 August 1975	313 days
–		Yerks, Robert GeorgeMajor General Robert G. Yerks (1928–2021)	1 August 1975	15 July 1977	1 year, 348 days
–		Dohleman, Kenneth E.Major General Kenneth E. Dohleman (1926–2018)	1 August 1977	1979	~2 years, 0 days
–		Arter, RobertMajor General Robert Arter (born 1929)	1979	1981	~2 years, 0 days
–		Curry, Jerry RalphMajor General Jerry R. Curry (1932–2020)	1981	1983	~2 years, 0 days
–		Ballantyne, John Lawson IIIMajor General John L. Ballantyne III (born 1931)	1983	1986	~3 years, 0 days
–		Hilbert, Donald C.Major General Donald C. Hilbert (1933–2020)	1986	1990	~4 years, 0 days
–		Streeter, William FrederickMajor General William F. Streeter (born 1937)	1990	20 May 1993	~3 years, 0 days
–		Gorden, Fred AugustusMajor General Fred A. Gorden (born 1940)	20 May 1993	29 August 1995	2 years, 101 days
–		Foley, Robert FranklinMajor General Robert F. Foley (born 1941)	29 August 1995	13 August 1998	2 years, 349 days
–		Ivany, Robert RudolphMajor General Robert R. Ivany (born 1947)	13 August 1998	28 July 2000	1 year, 350 days
–		Jackson, James T.Major General James T. Jackson	28 July 2000	2003	~3 years, 0 days
–		Jackman, Galen BruceMajor General Galen B. Jackman (born 1951)	2003	21 July 2005	~2 years, 0 days
–		Swan, Guy Carleston IIIMajor General Guy C. Swan III (born 1954)	21 July 2005	5 June 2007	1 year, 319 days
–		Rowe, Richard J.Major General Richard J. Rowe Jr.	5 June 2007	23 June 2009	2 years, 18 days
–		Horst, Karl R.Major General Karl R. Horst	23 June 2009	3 June 2011	1 year, 345 days
–		Linnington, Michael S.Major General Michael Linnington (born 1958)	3 June 2011	24 June 2013	2 years, 21 days
–		Buchanan, Jeffrey S.Major General Jeffrey S. Buchanan	24 June 2013	9 June 2015	1 year, 350 days
–		Becker, BradleyMajor General Bradley Becker	9 June 2015	28 April 2017	1 year, 323 days
–		Howard, Michael L.Major General Michael L. Howard	28 April 2017	4 June 2019	2 years, 37 days
–		Jones, Omar J. IVMajor General Omar Jones	4 June 2019	8 June 2021	2 years, 4 days
–		Pepin, Allan M.Major General Allan Pepin	8 June 2021	1 June 2023	1 year, 358 days
–		Bredenkamp, Trevor J.Major General Trevor J. Bredenkamp	1 June 2023	21 July 2025	2 years, 50 days
–		Gant, Antoinette R.Brigadier General Antoinette R. Gant	21 July 2025	Incumbent	128 days

• Naval District Washington
• Air Force District of Washington

• Eicher, John H., andDavid J. Eicher.Civil War High Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001.ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

• Military District of Washington
• https://web.archive.org/web/20010516210117/http://www.afic.army.mil/ - archive Armed Forces Inaugural Committee webpage from 16 May 2001

• United States Army Direct Reporting Units
• Military in Washington, D.C.
• Departments and districts of the United States Army

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