Mother’s words inspire Maryland officer
Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead’s career path was inspired by her mother, and four words of encouragement, although simple, determined the course of her life: “You can do it.”
As a United States military officer serving as Maryland’s 31st adjutant general – as well as the only Black woman in the country leading a state and second woman to do so in the state’s history – Birckhead currently holds the top military position in the state after being appointed in 2023.
“Who knew, at some point, Gov. Wes Moore would appoint me to adjutant general of Maryland? It’s a rewarding job. It’s a rewarding experience.”
It’s an achievement she owes to her mother, Fannie Mae Ward Birckhead, a community activist and the adjutant general’s biggest supporter. She died in 2022.
Birckheard never truly considered a military career. That was until her mother pushed her to apply for an ROTC scholarship at Hampton University in Virginia – a scholarship that ultimately led her on a winding path to the Army National Guard.
“She was always looking for opportunities for me, (telling me) ‘You can do it, Janeen. You can do it,’” Birckhead said.
For her work, Birckhead has been named USA TODAY’s Woman of the Year for Maryland.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Question: Who paved the way for you? Who did you pave the way for?
Answer: My mom – “Mommy” – the honorable Fannie Mae Ward Birckhead, paved the way for me. She was a community leader, community activist and cared for others. Community service is what she really instilled in our family.
Lt. Gen. James F. Fretterd from the Eastern Shore also paved the way for me. He saw a talent in me, and said, “We’ve got to make sure that she’s getting the mentorship she needs.” I will always be grateful to him for that support and for seeing that possibility in me.
Gen. Linda L. Singh, the 29th adjutant general, was also inspirational. She was certainly someone who pushed me and saw an ability in me. I also worked for Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes, and by seeing how he operated, understanding the world around him and giving me my first job out of college, he set me on a trajectory.
As far as who I’ve helped pave the way for, I have planted a lot of seeds and continue to nurture those seeds. I plant the seeds, watch them grow, tend to them and pull the weeds out to ensure there are good roots established. We’ll see what comes out on the other end.
What is your definition of courage?
My definition of courage changes over time. To me, courage is being able to face adversity. Courage is being resilient. Resilient 6 is my military call sign because I tend to use mindfulness and other techniques in order to bounce back from adversity.
How do you overcome adversity?
I use mindfulness to overcome adversity. I do a 360 every night and ask myself, “Janine, what happened today? Why and how did that happen? Can I make a change? Is there something that I could do better?” I try to do that 360 every night, whether it’s in my mind before I lay down or something intentional where I pull out a piece of paper and take notes.
I think it’s important to try to digest and dissect what happened during the day. I try not to get caught up in the moment. So, for me, writing it down and having those techniques allows me to react or act or let it go, to find another way to deal with a situation. Sometimes you have to step back and think about it.
What advice would you give your younger self ?
I would tell my younger self to continue to be resilient, and failure or adversity is not a negative thing. It can make you stronger. If there are things that other people can do, you can do it, too. Also, stop procrastinating. Don’t procrastinate.