U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Diana Elias, from Lincoln, Nebraska, will join the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) in supporting the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025.

Elias will play a distinguished role in the 60th Presidential Inauguration as an executive driver. National Capital Region Regional Office Building drivers will join JTF-NCR, a task force comprised of service members from all branches of the armed forces, including Reserve and National Guard components. The drivers’ participation highlights the military’s long-standing role in supporting presidential inaugurations.

Elias, a 2016 graduate of Lincoln High School and 2021 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska, is responsible for transporting distinguished visitors to and from ceremonial practices.

Elias is a reserve member of the U.S. Navy and has served for four years.

“I feel privileged to be part of the inauguration, as it illustrates the differences in freedoms of our nation and that of others like the homeland I fled,” said Elias. “This event allows me to contribute to the security and well-being of the president. Not everyone has the opportunity to experience such a memorable occasion. It is incredible to have the opportunity to serve the head of a country’s government, transforming fear into purpose while rising above the challenges of oppression.”

National Capital Region Regional Office Building drivers are vital in ensuring operations are successfully executed during the inauguration period. Members undergo extensive training to ensure that essential personnel are present at correct locations in a timely manner. This dedication reflects their mission to work behind-the-scenes to honor the nation’s leaders and traditions.

JTF-NCR is the joint service command charged with planning, coordinating, and providing U.S. military support for presidential inaugurations. Approximately 5,000 service members from every branch, including active and reserve components, will provide ceremonial and operational support during the upcoming inauguration. Military support has been integral to presidential inaugurations since 1789, when a military escort and full ceremonial procession escorted the newly elected president to his swearing-in.

The armed forces’ participation in this tradition demonstrates their support for the nation’s newly elected commander in chief, reaffirms civilian control of the military, and underscores the peaceful transition of power, a cornerstone of American democracy.