Incoming Fort Drum commander meets with Schumer in Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The incoming commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division heard about Fort Drum’s impact on the North Country region during a Tuesday meeting with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.).

But Brigadier General Milford Beagle, Jr. isn’t new to Fort Drum, having previously served as deputy commanding general for support at the base, per his biography on the website of the U.S. Army. Now, he’s the incoming commander of the base.

Beagle has been serving as commanding general of the U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He’ll take over for Maj. Gen. Brian Mennes, who is leaving Fort Drum to become deputy commanding general of I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, per the website of the U.S. Department of Defense.

During the meeting with Beagle at Schumer’s office in the U.S. Capitol, the majority leader reiterated his “strong support” of the soldiers at Fort Drum and the “critical role” they have in the nation’s defense.

The Democrat also noted the “positive impact” the base has on the surrounding communities and the whole North Country.

Schumer reminded Beagle of Fort Drum’s partnership with the North Country. Fort Drum doesn’t have a school or hospital on the base, so military families have “seamlessly integrated” into the community and rely on local services, per Schumer’s office.

Projects underway at Fort Drum and the surrounding community, which Schumer has supported, include a new drone hanger, “railhead modernization,” and most recently, the Watertown YMCA community center.