LTC Thomas Chapeau '94 Led Inaugural Parade

January 25, 2021

LTC Thomas Chapeau '94 was assigned to the Joint Task Force National Capitol Region after serving two years commanding the Headquarters Command Battalion at Fort Meade.  The commanding general brought him onto the team for the Inauguration. As the planning process continued, he was selected to command the Inaugural Parade Task Force.

"It was truly an honor to be selected for this position," he said. "The Department of Defense (DOD) has provided the ceremonial escort of the Commander in Chief into the White House for more than 225 years. In light of a global pandemic, we were still able to safely carry out our duties, maintain readiness, and demonstrate the military’s precision, teamwork, and dedication to excellence during this year’s 59^th Presidential Inauguration. It was an honor to be a part of this team."

LTC Chapeau was responsible for coordinating the historic events with interagency partners and other entities, all while taking the extra precautions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In the days leading up to the inauguration, I was so focused on executing my mission and ensuring the parade portion of the inaugural events went smoothly, I didn’t pay much attention to what was happening around me," he said. "The first time that it really set in was when I was standing in Freedom Plaza.  As I looked around, the wind was blowing the flags, which were hung on everything, from the sides of the buildings, light posts, fencing, and rooftops. It was an amazing sight.

"Three words came into mind: Significant: because even though COVID changed the entire face of the inauguration, we still executed this time-honored tradition, safely, and following CDC guidelines. Historic: because the DOD has provided the ceremonial escort for the Commander in Chief into the White House for more than 225 years, and Miraculous: because as I stood there as a service member, we represented all service members, past and present, to welcome our new commander in chief. What an epic day. I was truly honored to be a part of it."

On Inauguration Day, LTC Chapeau was interviewed by Al Roker on the Today Show, where he talked about the plans for the parade. Watch the interview here. He was also featured on MPR News.

LTC Chapeau will spend the next few weeks archiving his work for the next inauguration, then he will transition to the War College, where he will continue to serve.