White House Military Office The White House Military Office ( WHMO ) , an entity of the Executive Office of the President , provides military support for White House functions , including food service , Presidential transportation , medical support and emergency medical services , and hospitality services . The White House Military Office is headed by the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director , White House Military Office . This office is currently held by George D . Mulligan Jr . History . Today ' s White House Military Office is an amalgamation of several previously independent offices and agencies . Military representation aiding Presidents predates the construction of the White House and originated with General George Washington ' s Aide - de - Camp , whose role as Personal Aide to the President has continued and is currently filled by the Military Aides to the President . These roles carry a wide variety of responsibilities , from critical military command and control missions to ceremonial duties at Presidential events . The White House Garage was created by an act of in 1909 . Over the years it was transformed into a military organization and became a regular unit in 1963 by the name of the U . S . Army Transportation Agency ( White House ) . It was later renamed the White House Transportation Agency . Camp David was established in 1942 to provide the President a safe and relaxing residence away from the White House . That same year , the White House Communications Agency was formed to assure that the President always had access to safe , secure , and reliable means of communication . Two years later , President Franklin D . Roosevelt called for the creation of the Presidential Pilot ' s Office ( renamed the Presidential Airlift Group in 2001 ) to provide air transportation to the President and his staff . The White House Medical Unit was established in the West Wing in 1945 . The White House Mess , also contained in the West Wing , was established in 1951 and has been run by the Navy ever since . Marine Helicopter Squadron One ( HMX - 1 ) was created in 1957 when President Dwight D . Eisenhower was vacationing in Newport , Rhode Island , and had to return to the White House on short notice . He flew the first portion of the trip aboard HMX - 1 . On May 8 , 2009 , Louis Caldera , the Director of the White House Military Office , resigned amid controversy over the Air Force One photo op incident . His successor was announced on October 16 , 2009 , as George D . Mulligan Jr . Structure . The WHMO is headed by a Director who oversees the policies involving Department of Defense assets . He ensures that White House requirements are clearly communicated to the WHMO Directorates and meet the highest standards of Presidential quality . The WHMO ' s operational units are the most visible element of the WHMO ' s support to the President . The WHMO units include the : White House Communications Agency , Presidential Airlift Group , White House Medical Unit , Camp David , Marine Helicopter Squadron One , Presidential Food Service , White House Transportation Agency , White House Social Aides , and Military Aides to the President . The White House Military Office also includes staff dedicated to Operations , Information and Technology Management Financial Management and Comptroller , WHMO Counsel , and Security . Together the WHMO ' s entities provide essential service to the President as well as help assure the continuity of the Presidency . Most uniformed personnel assigned to the WHMO are eligible to wear the Presidential Service Badge after " a period of at least one year . " In popular culture . The White House Military Office is the subject of an episode of " Major Dad " titled " General Disturbance " , which originally aired on April 9 , 1993 . In it , General Marcus Craig ( Jon Cypher ) becomes the new new Deputy Director of WHMO and his whole staff , including Major John MacGillis ( Gerald McRaney ) is transferred to Washington , DC with him .