David Ward

USCG Group Baltimore was a United States Coast Guard command responsible for overseeing Coast Guard operations in the Chesapeake Bay and central Maryland region. Established to coordinate search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime safety missions, the unit managed several small boat stations and aids to navigation teams. Throughout its history, Group Baltimore played a vital role in regional disaster response, environmental protection, and homeland security efforts. In 2003, as part of a broader Coast Guard reorganization, its functions were merged into Sector Baltimore, continuing its legacy under a new structure.

916th Air Refueling Wing

U.S. Air Force

The 916th Air Refueling Wing (916 ARW) is a unit of the United States Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Activated in 1963 as the 916th Troop Carrier Group, it transitioned to air refueling missions in 1986, receiving KC-135 Stratotankers. The wing has supported numerous operations, including Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, providing critical aerial refueling to U.S. and allied aircraft worldwide. In recent years, the 916th has begun transitioning to the modern KC-46A Pegasus, enhancing its global reach and operational capabilities.

USCGC SHERMAN (WHEC-720) was a high endurance cutter of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 1968. The Sherman served with distinction in the Vietnam War, conducting naval gunfire support and interdiction missions. Over her decades of service, she participated in numerous drug interdiction operations, migrant rescues, and fisheries enforcement patrols. The cutter was decommissioned in 2018 and later transferred to the Sri Lanka Navy, where she was recommissioned as SLNS Gajabahu.