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Ed Rothstein

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Not to be confused with Edward Rothstein.
Ed Rothstein
Rothstein in 2023
Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 1, 2025
GovernorWes Moore
Preceded byRoss Cohen (acting)
Member of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners from the 5th district
In office
December 4, 2018 – July 31, 2025
Preceded byJ. Douglas Howard
Personal details
Born1963 (age 61–62)
New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Audrey Short
​
(m. 1994)​
Children2
EducationLock Haven University of Pennsylvania (BA)
Webster University (MA)
National Defense University (MS)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1983–2014
RankColonel
Unit743rd Military Intelligence Battalion
302nd Military Intelligence Battalion
V Corps
7th Infantry Division
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan

Edward Charles Rothstein[1] (born 1963) is an American politician and former U.S. Army colonel who has served as the secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he was a member of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners from 2018 to 2025.

Early life and education

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Rothstein was born outside of Wayne, New Jersey, in 1963.[2] His mother, Marilyn, was a nurse and his father, Harold Rothstein, was a high school biology teacher who served in the Korean War.[1][3][4] Raised in Wayne, he graduated in 1982 from Wayne Valley High School.[5]

Rothstein graduated from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1986; Webster University, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in human resource development in 1999; and National Defense University, where he earned a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy in 2010.[6]

Military career

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Rothstein's official military portrait

Rothstein enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 1983, and was in active duty as a commissioned officer in the Chemical Corps in 1986. His first tour of duty was in Germany, serving first in military intelligence in the air defense artillery unit before transitioning to the military intelligence corps in 1990. Rothstein returned to the United States to attend military school at Fort Ord, where he served in the light infantry battalion and met his future wife, Audrey.[4]

After leaving Fort Ord, Rothstein worked in the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, where he worked in strategic intelligence with the 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion. He was later stationed at The Pentagon, working in information operations as a staff action officer, and served on Bill Clinton's inaugural committee. Rothstein and his family eventually moved to Fort Leavenworth, where he obtained additional schooling. They moved to Germany in 1999, where Rothstein served for six years in the 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion and V Corps in Heidelberg and Wiesbaden and then in multiple staff positions for the United States European Command, supporting U.S. operations in Yugoslavia and Kosovo. Rothstein later moved to Colorado, where he worked at Fort Carson as a senior intelligence officer for the 7th Infantry Division from 2005 to 2007. He also served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.[4]

In 2007, Rothstein moved to Carroll County, Maryland, returning to the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, where he served as a garrison commander until he retired in 2014. During his tenure, he worked with the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation to fund the construction of the Education and Resiliency Center at Fort Meade.[4][7] After retiring, Rothstein started his own company, ERA Advisors LLC, and worked as a senior cyber security advisor to Bay Bank, F.S.B. from 2016 to 2018.[6]

Political career

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Carroll County commissioner

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In 2018, Rothstein ran for the fifth district seat of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners as a Republican.[8] He was endorsed by incumbent county commissioner Doug Howard during the Republican primary,[9] which he won with 45.6% of the vote in June 2018.[10] Rothstein ran unopposed in the general election[11] and was sworn in on December 4, 2018.[6] He was re-elected to a second term in 2022 after defeating two challengers in the Republican primary in July 2022.[12]

During his tenure, Rothstein advocated for programs to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland,[13][14][15] supported a countywide ban on solar projects on farmland,[16] and introduced legislation to enact a $3,000 impact fee on new housing developments.[17] He served as the board's vice president from 2018 to 2021, and as its president from 2021 to 2023.[6] Rothstein condemned the January 6 United States Capitol attack, saying that the events that occurred during the attack "could be considered the norm at one time" in many of the countries he toured during his military career.[18] He supported former governor Larry Hogan's candidacy in the 2024 United States Senate election in Maryland and worked with the Hogan campaign to rally party veterans around his campaign.[19]

Rothstein resigned from the Carroll County Board of Commissioners on July 31, 2025.[20]

Maryland Secretary of Veterans

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Rothstein and Governor Wes Moore at a Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families event in Carroll County, 2025

On July 14, 2025, Governor Wes Moore announced that he would appoint Rothstein as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, succeeding Anthony Woods, who resigned in May 2025. He took office on August 1, 2025.[21] In an interview with The Baltimore Banner, Rothstein said that he would focus on improving housing and treatment for veterans, and would look to build the state's second veterans home in Sykesville.[22]

Personal life

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Rothstein married his wife, Audrey Short,[1] on September 4, 1994.[4] Together, they have two children[6] and live in Eldersburg, Maryland.[4] He is Jewish.[23]

Rothstein struggled with mental health issues during his military career. He credits the United States Department of Veterans Affairs with helping him "identify the demons I had in myself" and now takes medication to help him address his mental health.[4]

Rothstein is a fan of the Baltimore Orioles.[24] In August 2011, he threw the first pitch a Bowie Baysox game celebrating Fort Meade Day.[25]

Electoral history

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2018 Carroll County Board of Commissioners 5th district election[26][27]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Rothstein 1,331 45.6
Republican Kathy Fuller 759 26.0
Republican Frank Robert 678 23.2
Republican Dave Greenwalt 152 5.2
General election
Republican Ed Rothstein 12,443 96.7
Write-in 418 3.3
2022 Carroll County Board of Commissioners 5th district election[28][29]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Rothstein (incumbent) 2,175 56.8
Republican Kate M. Maerten 1,115 29.1
Republican Cathey Allison 538 14.1
General election
Republican Ed Rothstein (incumbent) 10,861 96.6
Write-in 386 3.4

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Marriage of Short / Rothstein". The Baltimore Sun. August 7, 1994. p. 126. Retrieved July 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Hirsch, Rona (August 1, 2013). "Garrison Commander Reflects on Two Years at Fort Meade". U.S. Army. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  3. ^ Bieltz, Brandon (November 15, 2012). "Past, current service members honored at Veterans Day observance". U.S. Army. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Greenfield, Sherry (November 13, 2022). "Carroll County Commissioners' President Ed Rothstein reflects on 31-year military career". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Servicemen get new assignments". Herald News. November 13, 1983. p. 85. Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Pvt. Edward C. Rothstein, son of Harold and Marilyn Rothstein of Wayne, has completed basic training at Fort Dix. He is a 1982 graduate of Wayne Valley High School.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Edward C. Rothstein, Maryland Acting Secretary of Veterans & Military Families". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  7. ^ Marbella, Jean (November 16, 2022). "'A place to begin to heal': Fort Meade opens a resiliency center for those who bear the weight of secret, stressful missions". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  8. ^ Elben, Michel (January 4, 2018). "2018 election will see Carroll vote for commissioners, BOE, other local and state offices". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  9. ^ Turiano, Jennifer (April 25, 2018). "Drugs and development hot topics at Carroll District 5 candidate forum". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  10. ^ Turiano, Jennifer (June 26, 2018). "Commissioner candidates Wantz, Weaver, Rothstein big winners in Carroll primary". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  11. ^ Turiano, Jennifer (November 6, 2018). "Frazier, Bouchat win contested Carroll County Board of Commissioners races; will join Wantz, Weaver, Rothstein". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  12. ^ Greenfield, Sherry (July 20, 2022). "Incumbent Ed Rothstein declares victory in Carroll County commissioners race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  13. ^ Keller, Mary Grace (April 2, 2020). "Carroll County commissioners delay tax sale, approve grant program for small businesses hurt amid coronavirus". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  14. ^ Keller, Mary Grace (May 22, 2020). "'Reach out to us': Carroll County commissioners ask for businesses to share reopening ideas". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  15. ^ Keller, Mary Grace (July 10, 2020). "Carroll commissioners expand coronavirus relief funding to include sole proprietors without employees". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  16. ^ Greenfield, Sherry (July 14, 2023). "Carroll County commissioners vote to eliminate community solar projects on farmland". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  17. ^ Greenfield, Sherry (July 28, 2023). "Carroll officials create $3,000 fee for new single-family homes to support future school construction". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  18. ^ Blubaugh, Bob (January 7, 2021). "Amid their own 'peaceful transition of power,' Carroll County commissioners denounce attack on Capitol". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  19. ^ Reese, Ethan (April 20, 2024). "Carroll Republicans weigh in on Larry Hogan's Senate bid ahead of primary". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  20. ^ "Republican Central Committee meets Tuesday to nominate Rothstein's replacement". The Baltimore Sun. July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  21. ^ Hogan, Jack (July 14, 2025). "Moore names Carroll County Republican as veterans secretary". Daily Record. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  22. ^ Wood, Pamela (July 14, 2025). "Moore picks former Fort Meade commander to be state veterans secretary". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  23. ^ Turiano, Jennifer (November 27, 2018). "Outgoing Carroll Commissioner Rothschild reflects on 8 years of service, talks small government, God, schools". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  24. ^ Righter, Catalina (September 28, 2018). "Retired Col. Ed Rothstein, of Sykesville, honored at Orioles game". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  25. ^ "Bowie Baysox celebrates Fort Meade Day". The Baltimore Sun. August 11, 2011. p. T18. Retrieved July 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Carroll County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  27. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for Carroll County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  28. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Carroll County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  29. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for Carroll County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
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