Did you know that Fort George G Meade started life with different names? Initially called Camp Annapolis Junction and Camp Admiral this sprawling military installation near Washington DC has a rich history. Established in 1917 by an Act of Congress it was one of sixteen cantonments built for World War I troops. Its location was strategically chosen. It was near a railroad the port of Baltimore and Washington DC itself. The land cost just $37 an acre.
Fort George G Meade’s construction cost a staggering $18 million. Over 400000 soldiers trained there during WWI. Three infantry divisions three training battalions and a depot brigade all utilized its facilities. A remount station even collected over 22000 horses and mules. The famous Hello Girls also served there. These bilingual women were vital telephone operators in the US Army Signal Corps.
The fort’s name wasn’t always Fort Meade. It was briefly renamed Fort Leonard Wood in 1928. Pennsylvania congressmen protested the removal of George Meade’s name. They blocked Army appropriations until the original name was reinstated. This happened on March 5 1929.
During World War II Fort Meade served as a training center. Over 3.5 million soldiers used its ranges and facilities between 1942 and 1946. In March 1945 its wartime military personnel peaked at 70000. Post WWII the fort returned to peacetime operations.
Today Fort George G Meade is Maryland’s largest employer. It has the third largest workforce of any Army installation in the continental United States. It’s home to all five branches of the military. Over 115 government agencies and organizations are based there including the National Security Agency. The NSA and Fort Meade together generate $17.8 billion in economic activity in Maryland. That’s almost half of the total $36 billion economic impact from all Maryland military installations. Fort Meade and the NSA create or support over 125000 jobs. They provide an estimated $9.2 billion in employee compensation.
Fort Meade’s modern role centers on information intelligence and cyber operations. Six of the top eight Department of Defense cyber commands are located there. This includes US Cyber Command the National Security Agency the Defense Information Systems Agency and others. Fort Meade has indeed grown from its humble beginnings as a WWI training camp to become a vital hub of national security. It’s a testament to its strategic importance and adaptability throughout the nation’s history.