Fort George G. Meade

Fort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation located in Maryland, situated between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Bordered by the Baltimore–Washington Parkway, the site occupies approximately 5,067 acres and is operated by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command.

Established in 1917 as Camp Admiral, the post initially served as a training camp and garrison for the 154th Depot Brigade. It was renamed in honor of Union General George G. Meade. During the interwar period, the installation hosted the Army’s tank school and Experimental Motorized Forces. During World War II, the post functioned as a recruit training center and prisoner of war camp. The headquarters of the Second U.S. Army relocated to the post in 1947, and the National Security Agency (NSA) established its headquarters there in 1957. During the Cold War, the site operated air defense radar systems and Nike Ajax surface-to-air missile batteries.

The installation serves as the headquarters for United States Cyber Command, the NSA, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), and the Defense Media Activity. It also hosts the United States Fleet Cyber Command (Tenth Fleet) and Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command. Stationed Army units include the 704th and 780th Military Intelligence Brigades, the 902nd Military Intelligence Group, First Army Division East, and the United States Army Field Band. Air Force units at the installation include the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing and the 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing.

Infrastructure includes the Defense Information School, a 95-acre DISA complex, and the Defense Courier Service. A 100-acre section of the base is utilized by the Library of Congress for archival storage, featuring phased storage modules for manuscripts, maps, and microfilm masters. The installation also contains residential housing and schools operated by Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Support facilities include the offices of the Military Intelligence Civilian Excepted Career Program and the Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory.