United States Army Military District of Washington The United States Army Military District of Washington ( MDW ) is one of nineteen major commands of the United States Army . Its headquarters are located at Fort Lesley J . McNair in Washington , D . C . The missions of the units in the Military District of Washington include ceremonial tasks as well as a combat role in the defense of the National Capital Region . Besides Fort McNair , the following installations are included under the umbrella of the MDW ' s command : Units assigned to the Military District of Washington include : The Military District of Washington also represents the U . S . Army in the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region ( JFHQ - NCR ) , as well as oversight of all ceremonial operations in Arlington National Cemetery . The current Commanding General of the Military District of Washington is Major General Jeffrey S . Buchanan . The Military District of Washington Chief of Staff , and liaison to the JFHQ - NCR , is Colonel Patrick T . Warren . The Commanding General , Chief of Staff , and Command Sergeant Major of the Military District of Washington hold the same positions at the JFHQ - NCR , which supervises military planning for defense of the National Capital Region . History . MDW can trace its origin back to 1921 when the War Department created the District of Washington . Today MDW is one of the Army ' s major commands . Its installations include Fort McNair , the nation ' s second - oldest military post still in use , and Fort Myer , Gen . Philip Sheridan ' s cavalry showplace and site of the first military aircraft flight . The District of Washington initially included Fort Washington , Md . , Fort Hunt , Va . , the District of Columbia and Fort Myer . With the dissolution of the District of Washington in 1927 , the commanding general of the 16th Infantry Brigade at Fort Hunt became responsible for conducting military ceremonies and administering discipline to service members in the nation ' s capital . In 1942 , about five months after the U . S . entered World War II , the War Department created the U . S . Army Military District of Washington to plan for a ground defense of the nation ' s capital . MDW was headquartered during those years in " temporary " buildings at Gravelly Point , Virginia . , near Washington National Airport . It moved to Second Street , S . W . , in Washington , D . C . , in the early 1960s , and to its present headquarters at Fort Lesley J . McNair in 1966 . During the World War II era , MDW was gradually reorganized as a service - and - support command . One of MDW ' s main responsibilities was servicing the newly built Pentagon through the Army Headquarters commandant . The U . S . Army Band , " Pershing ' s Own , " also became an integral part of the command ' s ceremonial mission during this period . At the end of World War II , the 3rd U . S . Infantry Regiment ( The Old Guard ) was deactivated in Germany . This regiment , the oldest U . S . infantry unit , was reactivated in 1948 and assigned to MDW to meet the command ' s tactical commitments and for military ceremonies . Although MDW ' s mission has remained the same , it has gained , lost and regained various installations and support responsibilities over the years . Vint Hill Farms and Arlington Hall Station , both in Virginia , and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington , D . C . , were once part of MDW . Cameron Station and Davison Army Airfield , near Fort Belvoir , joined MDW in the 1950s . In 1980 MDW gained responsibility for the administration and daily operation of Arlington National Cemetery , in addition to the ceremonial support the command has always provided . In 1987 MDW ' s support responsibilities for the Pentagon were transferred elsewhere . Fort Belvoir became a major subordinate command in 1988 . In 1992 Davison Aviation Command was reorganized as the Operational Support Airlift Command , with responsibilities for fixed - wing Army aircraft support throughout the United States . Additionally , they provide rotary - wing ( helicopter ) support to Army leadership and distinguished officials in the National Capital Region . In April 1993 , MDW reorganized its MACOM staff and the Fort Myer Military Community formed a garrison staff to support Forts Myer and McNair , and Cameron Station . On October 1 , 1993 , Fort Meade , Fort Holabird and Fort Ritchie in Maryland , and A . P . Hill in Virginia joined the MDW family of installations . The command more than doubled in size as MDW went from four posts totaling to eight posts totaling . The number of service members and civilians on MDW installations also increased from 16 , 166 to 61 , 531 . Cameron Station officially closed on September 30 , 1995 . Most of the organizations were relocated to either Fort Belvoir or Fort Myer . Fort Hamilton , New York , became the newest member of MDW ' s family of installations when it was transferred to MDW from U . S . Army Forces Command October 6 , 1997 . The post is 172 years old . On June 10 , 2010 , Secretary of the Army , John M . McHugh , rescinded MDW ' s responsibility for the administration and daily operation of Arlington National Cemetery . However , MDW still maintains ceremonial support for funerals and guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier .