Col. Yolanda Gore took the reins as Fort George G. Meade’s garrison commander, the first woman to do so in the military installation’s 107-year history.

Gore assumed command of the installation during a ceremony Tuesday, taking over from Col. Michael Sapp, who had held the position since July 2022. The garrison commander is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Fort Meade, similar to a city manager.

Gore, a South Carolina native, most recently served as the strategic initiative chief for the Army’s deputy chief of staff for personnel at the Pentagon.

Acknowledging the historic nature of being the first woman to serve as Fort Meade’s garrison commander, a role that she’s “deeply honored” to be in, Gore said it marked something greater than herself.

“This wasn’t just about me; it was about progress for the country, the nation and women as a whole,” she said in an interview following the ceremony. “This is just progress, so I was just happy to see that we, or the Army, is taking steps to diversify its ranks, diversify as leaders and move in the right direction.”

Taking on this role, Gore said she hopes women are given more chances and opportunities to lead. To the women in the Army today, she says to keep pushing forward.

During her speech at the ceremony, Gore also thanked Sapp and his wife, Heather, for their work over the last two years.

“Your leadership and visions have left an enduring mark on this garrison, and I’m committed to building upon the solid foundation you have established,” she said of her predecessor. “As we move forward, I pledge to work tirelessly with determination and unity to ensure Fort Meade remains a premier installation and a beacon of excellence.”

Sapp took command of the installation at the tail end of the pandemic. In a speech Tuesday, he recalled his promise to restore pre-COVID processes and bring Fort Meade back together.

“What I didn’t realize at the time was how eager everyone else was to achieve that same goal, or how proactive everyone would be to help get us there,” he said. “I’m as excited as you are to see the changes and to have had even a small part in renewing the partnership opportunities, but it would not have happened without the efforts of our community partners outside our fence line and throughout Central Maryland.”

The installation’s relationships with partners and leaders inside and outside of its boundaries, Sapp said, are what made Fort Meade “worthy” of being honored last year as a Great American Defense Community, a recognition for exceptional commitment to improving quality of life for military.

Sapp expressed gratitude to Heather, his wife of 24 years, and their three children Samantha, Alexander and Katherine. Special thanks went to 13-year-old Katherine for singing the national anthem in front of hundreds of people at Tuesday’s ceremony.

“You have supported me each day in this adventure,” he said of his family. “You’ve listened to the stories and provided incredible insights and perspectives that made me a better leader, and frankly, made Meade a better place to be.”

Gore is ready to continue helping families within the Fort Meade community. Over the next two years, she hopes to boost activities for families and children to ensure they can receive education and access to sports — things that were lost during the pandemic, she said.

“I want to take the kids from behind the Xbox and Nintendo and all those, and bring us back to what I know from my South Carolina roots, [which] is family,” she said. “We only knew one way together, and that was outside, that was in person, that was never via a video game … I want to bring family to Fort Meade.”

Gore joined the South Carolina National Guard after graduating high school, serving for five years until her commission in 2002. She graduated and earned her Army commission from South Carolina State University. Gore also holds master’s degrees from Webster University and the Army War College.

Gore will be joined by her husband of 21 years, Lt. Col. Michael Gore. The Gores have two children: Shantell, a graduate of East Carolina University, and Morgyn, a rising sophomore at Virginia Tech.