A short Bio

Mr Fechter serves as the Garrison Safety Manager and manages the Ft Meade Office of the Installation Safety Office. He manages 11 Installation Safety Programs and 18 Garrison Safety Programs for Army, Joint and Interagency tenants on the 2nd largest population in the military. In 2017, he was selected from world-wide applications and served as a technical coordinator to USAREUR staff elements on the planning and conduct of a major multinational training exercise (Saber Guardian 17) which included deployment to Romania. Mr Fechter earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington. After graduate studies in Near Eastern Languages, he joined the Army and was commissioned after Officer Candidate School (OCS). He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management from American Technological University. He has also done graduate studies in Law, International Relations, Military Studies, and Education. Mr Fechter retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S Army Reserve. After the Infantry Basic Course, Mr. Fechter commanded an Initial Entry Training Company at Ft Dix, NJ. After Flight School, he held various positions in the 227 Aviation (Avn) Bn at Ft Hood, TX. After the attending the Infantry Advanced Course as the student S-1, he directed Avn School administration in the Secretary’s office, and served as the Director of Remedial Avn training, the Communicative Skills Branch Chief, and a Small Group instructor for the Avn AdvancedCourse teaching tactics and leadership. He then commanded E Company, 1-145 Avn Regiment. He was on the staff of the Avn Training Bde (AUG) during which he completed the Command and General Staff College. After duty as an Observer Controller for Team Spirit in Korea, he served as an Instructor for Avn Advance Course for the 4290 USAR School, Nashville, TN. After the Combat Safety Officer Course, he served as a Combat Safety Officer assigned to the 101st Air Assault Division, Ft Campbell, KY. He joined the 354 Civil Affairs Brigade HQ, completed the Civil Affairs Advance Course and performed duties as Public Safety Officer and Public Finance Officer. He deployed to Egypt for Bright Star in 2001, and Europe in 2005. The highlight of his Army career was a combat tour in Baghdad, Iraq 2003-2004 as a Public Facility Team Chief/Deputy. During his civilian service, Mr Fechter was selected for and graduated from the DoD Executive Leadership Development Program. His many safety courses include recognition as the Honor graduate of the Radiation Safety Course. Mr Fechter holds a CP-12 ANSI Safety and Occupational Health Professional Certificate and certification as an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Consulting Trainer Mr Fechter has DoD Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) ratings in German, Spanish, French, Italian, Farsi and Arabic. Mr. Fechter has received numerous awards including The Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, the Commander's Award for Civilian Service, Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Army Good Conduct Medal, The National Defense Service Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster, He was awarded the Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Ranger Tab. Mr. Fechter is blessed with 4 children and 4 grandchildren