Situated at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and bordered by the Susquehanna and Gunpowder Rivers, APG is surrounded by some of the best natural resources that Maryland has to offer in a region that is recognized for a superior quality of life for its citizens. Because Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are within easy driving distance, families travel short routes to a myriad of cultural and social leisure activities. Additionally, the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) staff offers a full range of cultural, social, leisure and physical activities for the entire family, right here on the installation.
When war was declared on the Central Powers in April 1917 the Army quickly realized the need for facilities on testing munitions of war. The new site needed to be near industrial and manufacturing centers and far enough away from population centers so that year-round testing wouldn't cause community disturbances or public hazards. Aberdeen, Maryland met those qualifications. On October 20, 1917 Aberdeen Proving Ground was established to provide the nation's site where Army materiel could be developed and tested. At the same time, the Edgewood Arsenal was established nearby to provide a site for the development, production and testing of chemical warfare materiel.
Today, Aberdeen Proving Ground is composed of more than 72,500 acres of land in Harford County Maryland. It encompasses more than 60 different tenant activities making it the county's largest employer with more than 16,000 civilian, military and contractor employees.
APG's 2012 mission is to transform at an aggressive pace through substantially enhancing its support to those who live and serve at APG. Transformation will focus on the areas of quality of life, facilities and infrastructure, services, and human capital. APG will use traditional and non-traditional approaches to achieve and sustain valuable amenities that enhance its missions and make APG a relevant and ready installation contributing world class support to the Warfighter throughout the 21st century.