Press Release
☷JTF NCR MDW bid farewell to titans of the organization
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Mar 15,2024
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Members of the Joint Task Force - National Capital Region/U . S . Army Military District of Washington staff gathered for a farewell reception in Washington , D . C . on March 8 , 2024 . The reception was held to honor Mike Wagner , former director of national events planning , and Jim Laufenburg , former director of the ceremonies and outreach division , who had a combined service of nearly 85 years to the Army and Joint force . Marine Sgt . Steven Sexton was really excited as he was about to carry the official Battle Color of the Marine Corps in front of a huge crowd of 61 , 000 fans and millions of viewers during Super Bowl LVIII . Sexton said , "I think about it before the presentation , but it really hits me when I get on stage and realize how important these events are and how many people are watching . " If you ' ve ever seen an armed forces color guard on TV , a service member standing guard during a state funeral , The U . S . Army Band "Pershing ' s Own" performing in a presidential inauguration , or military working dogs at an event around the Capitol , chances are it was coordinated by James Laufenburg or Michael Wagner . However , Laufenburg retired as the director of the ceremonies and outreach division ( COD ) , and Wagner stepped down as the director of national events on March 8 , 2024 . Laufenburg said , "It ' s an emotional time , but it was time . " Together , they have almost 85 years of combined service to our nation , both as members of the military and as government civilians . Last week , they concluded their careers at Joint Task Force - National Capital Region ( JTF - NCR ) and U . S . Army Military District of Washington ( MDW ) , a command responsible for providing ceremonial support and defense support to civilian authorities . Maj . Gen . Trevor Bredenkamp , JTF - NCR/MDW commanding general , commended their impactful work and expressed that they will be missed . Trevor Bredenkamp , the commanding general of Joint Task Force - National Capital Region/U . S . Army Military District of Washington , gave a speech at a casual farewell reception in Washington , D . C . on March 8 , 2024 . The reception was held to honor Mike Wagner , the former director of national events planning , and Jim Laufenburg , the former director of the ceremonies and outreach division . These two individuals had served the Army and Joint force for a combined total of almost 85 years . During the reception , two Superior Civilian Service Medals were prepared for presentation . Since becoming the COD director in 2018 , Laufenburg had overseen over 6 , 000 missions worldwide , including events like presenting the colors at the Super Bowl and organizing private memorials at Arlington National Cemetery . The COD team was known for their exceptional execution of engaging and innovative events that were always appropriate for the occasion . National special security events ( NSSE ) are events that require federal interagency support , as designated by the Department of Homeland Security . JTF - NCR may provide additional security , explosive ordnance disposal , or rotary - wing support during an NSSE . Wagner emphasized the importance of their job in deterring and defeating adversaries , with the goal of never having to engage in a fight . Wagner will be transitioning to the role of executive director of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies , where he will continue to work closely with JTF as they prepare for the 2025 Presidential Inauguration . At the farewell reception , Wagner and Laufenburg received recognition for their many years of service to the Army and Joint force , including a folded flag flown over the United States Capitol . The command considers events like inaugurations to be of utmost importance and must be executed flawlessly . With so much on the line , it ' s important for organizations to work together and trust each other in both planning and execution . According to Wagner , there are situations where setting up a camera for an event can involve dealing with multiple law enforcement jurisdictions , which can make things very complicated . Figuring out these relationships and how they function during a crisis can be extremely challenging . It takes a lot of time and effort to establish these connections . As they leave their positions , both men leave behind a legacy of strong outreach and partnership programs . Frenchick , MDW ' s chief of community engagement , mentioned that working with Laufenburg ' s team has taken her program to new levels . She said , "We ' ve expanded our community engagement program and created a great atmosphere for Twilight Tattoo through collaboration with COD . All of this helps us reach thousands of people each year and makes work enjoyable and meaningful . " Sgt . Sexton believes that the reason these programs are so successful is because they represent the entire military and the millions of Americans who have served . He emphasized the importance of maintaining humility and respect for this legacy . Wagner ' s greatest lesson learned during his time is that it ' s not just about taking care of the people at the front of the parade . There are also 2 , 000 people in the fifth division who have to stand on the mall for eight hours and potentially march in the dark at the end of the day . They also need to be taken care of . Command Sgt . Maj . Veronica Knapp , senior enlisted leader for Joint Task Force - National Capital Region/U . S . Army Military District of Washington , congratulated Wagner and Laufenburg during a farewell reception in Washington , D . C . , on March 8 , 2024 . Together , they had almost 85 years of service to the Army and Joint force . The author expresses their sincere thanks and gratitude to Laufenburg and Wagner for their service to JTF - NCR , MDW , and the United States of America as they move on to their next chapters .
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