Washington D.C. is the ultimate site for analyzing national logistics and history. In May 2022, we conducted a comprehensive mission to the capital—a place we had never visited before. This trip was a deep dive into the hallowed grounds of our democracy, from the tech-heavy exhibits of the Spy Museum to the somber rows of Arlington National Cemetery.
Navigating a district that isn’t a state, using the “tricky” Reagan National Airport, and managing the sheer volume of monuments required a high level of operational planning.
Read on for the full operational breakdown of the 2022 Washington D.C. deployment.
📍 Overview & Planning
D.C. requires specialized gear and a solid understanding of the district’s unique legal and geographic status. This section covers the mission briefing and the tech prep.
- Washington D.C. — The New Trip Briefing
- What is up with D.C.? Jurisdiction & History
- DC Trip Tech: Packing the Mobile Command Center
🛫 Air & Ground Operations
This mission utilized the Boeing 757-300—a “big old plane”—to reach Reagan National. We also analyzed the local rental car logistics for excursions outside the main mall.
- Parking/Airport: Starting at the New SLC
- Flight to Reagan: Boeing 757-300 Logistics
- Reagan National Airport (DCA): The Tricky Hub
- Rental Car Logistics: Budget at DCA
🏛️ The National Mall & Monuments
A site inspection of the most iconic structures in the United States. This section focuses on the history and layout of the Mall’s primary targets.
- The White House: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
- The Capitol: Infrastructure of the Eastern Mall
- Washington Monument: The Iconic Marker
- Lincoln Memorial: From Poverty to the Presidency
- Jefferson Memorial: The Tidal Basin Site
🎖️ Military & Historical Memorials
D.C. is home to the records of our nation’s conflicts. We conducted site visits to honor those who served across all branches of the military.
- Arlington National Cemetery: Across the Potomac
- WWII Memorial: Axis vs. Allies
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The National Design Contest
- [Service Specific Memorials: Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and Army]
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial: The First on the Mall
🎨 Museums & Landmarks
Beyond the monuments, we explored the cultural and historical archives of the Smithsonian and beyond.
- Holocaust Museum: Asking the Hard Questions
- Spy Museum: The Tech of Intelligence
- National Gallery of Art: The Classics
- American History Museum: The National Archive
- Mt. Vernon: George Washington’s Plantation
- District of Columbia Temple: The LDS Kensington Site
🍔 Culinary Logistics: Fueling the Mission
Walking the Mall requires significant calories. We analyzed the local food options, from quick starts to hotel dining.
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