BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Another veteran joined calls Thursday for Gov. Wes Moore to release his full military records, widening a transparency dispute that is increasingly spilling into Maryland’s 2026 governor’s race.
Dave Grogan, a Marine veteran, former Democrat, and now unaffiliated candidate for sheriff in Prince George’s County, said Moore’s military history should be publicly available because the governor has repeatedly made his service part of his political biography.
When you’re a public figure, I mean, we all have private lives, but your military record should be public,” Grogan said. “To me, he should have it on his website, if there’s nothing wrong with it.”
The pressure on Moore intensified after two Republican candidates for governor – businessman and Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale and federal contracting consultant John Myrick – released authorizations last week allowing media organizations to obtain their military files while challenging Moore to do the same.
Myrick, a combat veteran who served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, authorized the release of his full Official Military Personnel File, including DD-214 and DD-215 forms, citations, and records related to combat and non-combat deployments. Hale, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era, signed a similar release.
A week later, both candidates renewed their criticism.
“I think he ought to come clean, and that should end it all,” Hale said on Wednesday in Essex. “Do it. Put it out there.”
For more than a year, Spotlight on Maryland has reported on questions surrounding Moore’s military background and delays involving records his office previously said would be provided. Moore’s office has released one military document directly, while Spotlight on Maryland has obtained about three dozen records through a public records request with the U.S. Army.
A broader request for full military, academic, and athletic records has remained unresolved for months.
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Moore’s aides have repeatedly dismissed the scrutiny as politically driven. Asked Thursday whether the governor would sit for an interview, spokesperson Ammar Moussa declined.Grogan rejected the idea that the issue is partisan.
I don’t think so,” Grogan said. “When you’re a public figure, your military record should be public.”
He said public interest has grown because Moore frequently references his military experience in speeches and interviews.
In a 2006 C-SPAN interview, while serving as a White House Fellow during former President George W. Bush’s administration, Moore described himself as “a social moderate,” “a strong fiscal conservative,” “a military officer,” “an investment banker” and “a registered Democrat.”
During the same interview, Moore discussed his deployment to Afghanistan. Asked whether he came close to combat, Moore said, “Yeah, I mean, it’s a combat zone,” while shaking his head no.
Moore said the danger often came while moving “from Point A to Point B,” adding that he “had the chance to command troops and lead troops in combat.”
Spotlight has received no records from the Army or Moore that verify he led or commanded troops in combat.
RELATED | Ed Hale to release military records, challenges Gov. Moore to do the same
At his recent reelection kickoff in Baltimore, Moore referenced the military once in remarks reviewed by Spotlight on Maryland.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, launched his reelection effort on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the B&O Museum in Baltimore. (Gary Collins/Spotlight on Maryland)
“I learned in the military that you never learn anything about anybody in times of ease,” Moore said. “Because in easy times, anybody can show you anything. You ever want to learn anything about anybody? Watch them when it was hard.”
Myrick said Moore’s refusal to release his complete record only raises more questions.
“It absolutely does,” Myrick said when asked whether the lack of disclosure suggests Moore is hiding something. “It’s clear that if you have nothing to hide, why would you not release the records?”
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Hale said he could not understand why Moore would not authorize full disclosure.
I can’t understand if he’s not hiding something, the reasoning for not giving it to you,” Hale said. “Why not?”
Moore has insisted that his administration values transparency.
When pressed by Spotlight on Maryland in March about whether he would release his full records, Moore said in March, “We continue to show transparency on everything and all things.” But when asked why only limited records had been released, he did not answer directly.
The issue is unfolding as Moore faces broader questions about public trust. A recent UMBC poll found his approval rating at 48%, with 24% of those who disapproved citing poor leadership, dishonesty, or personal dislike of the governor as their main concern.
Grogan said the lingering questions about Moore’s record and transparency have changed his view of the governor he voted for in the 2022 general election.
Asked whether he would now vote for Moore, Grogan answered simply: “No. No, sir. No.”
Send news tips about this story or others to gmcollins@sbgtv.com or contact Spotlight on Maryland’s hotline at (410) 467-4670.
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