Noteworthy News

Mentorship Offers Major Benefits to Micro-Businesses

Sitting at a picnic table outside her workplace on a humid July afternoon, Maria Marinelli describes the experience of co-founding her company, Calibyr Corporation.

Like many FMA small business owners at Fort Meade, Marinelli and business partner, Seth Marple, work directly on-contract throughout the week while also juggling the formidable work of growing a startup. Both had spent years working for large and small contractors at the fort before striking out on their own in mid-2019 to start Calibyr – a company that aims to become a frontrunner in technical excellence and corporate culture.

Consequently, some Fort Meade Alliance members have started discussing the value of providing mentoring services that are tailored to micro-businesses (about 1-20 FTEs). In the wake of multiple mergers and acquisitions in recent years, such services could also help replenish the local population of small business contractors, and provide the essential talent and innovation needed for government mission success.

FGGM Changes Command

COL Michael A. Sapp assumed command as the 88th garrison commander of Fort George G. Meade from COL Christopher M. Nyland in a July 27, 2022 ceremony.

COL Sapp recently served as the Deputy National Security Agency/Central Security Service Representative to U.S. Central Command. Prior to this, he commanded the 297th Military Intelligence Battalion (Operations) at Fort Gordon, George, before attending the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. Meanwhile, COL Nyland’s next duty assignment will be as the executive officer to the president of National Defense University in Washington, D.C. 

We'd like to extend our extreme appreciation to COL Christopher Nyland for his ever-vigilant stewardship of the community and the Installation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring personal health and safety as well as continuity of the many national security missions based within the fence line. We also thank COL Nyland for his continued partnership in support of the Kuhn Hall Education and Resiliency Center project.

A Summer Full of Learning

A skilled workforce is essential to the success of Fort Meade agencies and area companies and the FMA has been busy this summer engaging in targeted, sustained and impactful efforts to expand the talent pipeline and build that workforce.

More Student Awards! 

We are proud to announce the success of two STEMOVATION pitches by students from South River High School and Glen Burnie High School. The students delivered their pitches virtually this summer to a six-person Advisory Board made up of FMA members. One presentation proposed the application of new technology to further develop a drone prototype already created. The second presentation proposed an innovative approach to airplane runways to help make medical emergency landings more effective. Mentorships and funding were awarded to support the completion of their capstone projects this upcoming school year.

Externships for Teachers

Committed to resolving the top five challenges in the current cyber workforce shortage gap, the FMA is helping to connect unique opportunities to students and teachers across multiple counties in the Fort Meade region. Recently, leaders from Howard County Public Schools (HCPS) collaborated with Bright Minds Foundation to launch the Teacher Externship Initiative for Summer 2022. This new initiative was created to offer real-time workplace experiences for teachers that complement their academic knowledge.

STEM Core Summer Internship

Internships are one of the ways FMA is combatting the cyber workforce shortage challenge. We are thrilled to announce that this summer a STEM Core student accepted a gainful internship offer from FMA member BigBear.ai.

From the FMA Foundation

Step Inside the Future!

The construction of the Education and Resiliency Center at Kuhn Hall continues to make great progress and we have set our sights on an official grand opening in November.

In the meantime, and with kudos to the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, a virtual tour of the renovation is now available online for anyone to take a step inside the future of education and resiliency at Fort Meade!

Welcome New Members

New Members

Akima

Global Network

Interstate Relocation Services

King Tide Advisors

Parker Group

Reveille Grounds

Uplift Energy Coaching, LLC

Vine Technology Solutions 

Upcoming Events

September 14 at 10 a.m.

Warrior Canine Connection Day of Service

FMA's Rising Stars Network is organizing a group of volunteers to help Warrior Canine Connection make much-need fence upgrades in time for the upcoming service dog training graduation! While you check your calendar, get yourself prepared to paint!

September 22 at 5 p.m.

Members Only Networking Reception

The Members Only Networking Reception is an opportunity for us to thank YOU for being an FMA member! We value your continued support to our mission and this annual outdoor gathering is a small way to show our appreciation.

October 21, 2023

2023 Stars in Service Gala

That's right! In response to the overwhelming success (and demand) of the inaugural Stars in Service Gala in April 2022, we officially announce the sequel for next year. Details are being finalized and are to come. Proceeds benefit our sister organization, the FMA Foundation.

We're looking forward to celebrating with you!

Our Mission Partners

Our 5-Star Partners

Amazon Web Services

Anne Arundel Community College

AAEDC

ASRC Federal

BAE Systems

BigBear.ai

Boeing Intelligence & Analytics

BrainTrust

CACI

Chugach Government Solutions

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Deloitte LLP

HCEDA

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Innoplex, LLC

LG-TEK

ManTech International Corporation

M.C. Dean

Oceaneering International, Inc.

Parsons

Praxis Engineering

SAIC

Tower Federal Credit Union

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Our Patriot Partners

Aronson, LLC

BlueHalo

Capitol Technology University

ClearEdge

Community College of Baltimore County

Crown Castle

Focal Point Data Risk 

Guidehouse

Howard Community College

KatzAbosch

Peterson Technologies

St. Onge Company

Vision Technologies

Our Granting Sponsor