Video: Defense Community Champion Jernigan Is ‘Heart and Light’ of Aberdeen Community

April 12, 2024
Defense Communities National Summit | Defense Community Champions | On Base

Mary Jane Jernigan from the Chesapeake Science & Security Corridor in Maryland was named a 2023-2024 Defense Community Champion by the Association of Defense Communities. Jernigan was honored at this week’s Defense Communities National Summit.

Watch her video story.

Jernigan is a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Maryland state president of the Association of the U.S. Army and president of Freestate ChalleNGe Academy Foundation.

Elizabeth Hartman, commander of American Legion Post 539 in Eastern North Carolina, and Jana Evans, San Antonio Area Manager for Soldiers’ Angels, were named national Champions, too. ADC and program sponsor Navy Federal Credit Union also recognized 13 local Defense Community Champions.

ADC video image

April 12, 2024
Defense Communities National Summit | Defense Community Champions | On Base

Recent News

New Guidance on DOD Civilian Hiring Freeze

New Guidance on DOD Civilian Hiring Freeze

Mar 18, 2025

The heads of the military services may now ask for exemptions to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s blanket hiring freeze for all civilian positions, according to a new memo. “While the Department remains under the hiring freeze, DOD will only hire mission-essential...

Military Reopens Recruitment Test Sites

Military Reopens Recruitment Test Sites

Mar 18, 2025

The sites across the country where military recruits take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test are open again. They had been briefly closed because of sweeping DOGE cuts, as Task & Purpose reported. DOGE leaders had deemed that military officials’...

Navy Destroyer Deployed in Immigration Policy Push

Navy Destroyer Deployed in Immigration Policy Push

Mar 18, 2025

In an unusual move, the Trump administration has deployed Navy Destroyer USS Gravely from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia as part of its military buildup on and near the Mexico border, as Military.com reported. “Gravely’s sea-going capacity improves our...

Shutdown Averted; Leaders to Discuss Budget at Summit

Shutdown Averted; Leaders to Discuss Budget at Summit

Mar 17, 2025

President Trump signed a stopgap spending bill Saturday that kept the government open and operating at fiscal year 2024 spending levels through September, the end of fiscal year 2025. The bill provides a small boost for defense spending and secures funding for a...

Feinberg Confirmed as Deputy Secretary

Feinberg Confirmed as Deputy Secretary

Mar 17, 2025

Stephen Feinberg was confirmed by the Senate Friday to become deputy secretary of defense. “His appointment is well-deserved, and he’s the right man for the job, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Let’s get to work,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, according to a DOD...

PAST STORIES