CUMBERLAND — The United States military continues to work to improve conditions in Iraq, and a hometown hero from the Cumberland area is doing his part to get the job done.

Capt. Brennan Mullaney, 27, a LaVale native, is preparing to return home this month from his second deployment to Iraq. Mullaney leads the approximately 100 troops of Troop B in the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army.

Mullaney’s men are comprised of a wide variety of ages and backgrounds. “They range from 18-year-old privates who joined us while we were on deployment in theater up to my senior NCO who works as my right-hand man and has been in the Army for 20 years,” said Mullaney during a phone interview from Iraq on Friday morning. “There’s guys from California, from Texas, from Maine. They’re from all over so it’s hard to put your finger on it. That’s what makes it a unique job.”

Despite having command over nearly a hundred men, Mullaney makes an effort to get to know everyone. “As a leader, that’s something I make a concerted effort to do,” said Mullaney. “They’re the reason why you keep going, the ones that you’re working with day in and day out. You build a sense of camaraderie — they’ve got family and friends supporting back home.” Mullaney has spent much of his most recent tour in Iraq helping to rebuild the village of Taza and its surrounding subdivision after a devastating car bomb attack in June killed approximately 90 residents and wounded about 200 more. “We’re doing a lot to assist the Iraqi army and police,” said Mullaney. “We’re trying to make them better, to make them more sustainable in a long-term sense.”

He and his troops also assist with local government and civic projects. “Most of the target projects we look at are things like essential services,” said Mullaney. “(For example), ensuring that people have drinkable water, electricity and power. We’ve also assisted in a number of road projects.

“I understand what I can influence is very small,” said Mullaney, “But I understand that’s actually where we can make a difference. The greatest fulfillment I get out of my job is going out with the guys we’re working with. ... If we do a school supply drop at a local school and we see the kids are getting supplies that they don’t have, or if a project is completed and we’re invited to the opening of it, that’s very fulfilling.

“That’s not going to win the whole conflict, but I know it’s a contribution. It’s good for us to do that.”

Mullaney is the son of Mike and Patty Mullaney of LaVale and the nephew of Downtown Manager Ed Mullaney. He has an older sister, Caitlin, and a younger brother, Conor, both of whom now reside in the D.C. area. He is a 2001 graduate of Bishop Walsh School.

Mullaney has been in the Army for four years. He graduated from West Point Military Academy in New York in 2005. Since then, he’s been deployed in a variety of places and completed specialized training at Fort Knox to become an armor officer. “We maintain the tanks, the fighting vehicles and all the mounted arms,” said Mullaney. He later joined up with the 1st Cavalry Division in Fort McHenry, Texas, and has since served two tours in Iraq starting in 2006 and 2009.

The chance to serve his country and lead others led Mullaney to join the armed forces. “Shortly after I started going to West Point, 9/11 happened, and it really changed everything,” said Mullaney. “What we were doing became very real.”

Mullaney said he’s eager to come home this month. “When you get back home from being deployed, (you enjoy) a lot of things that people take for granted in the U.S., like getting in your car and driving to get a bite to eat, walking through the mall, being able to turn on any radio station you want. ... There’s a myriad of things I can’t really describe, but by and large a lot of the stuff that you enjoy is amplified when you first get back. I’m planning on soaking all that in and seeing the people I haven’t had the chance to see.”

“Cumberland’s a great place to call home,” said Mullaney. “No matter where you go or what you do, you always have a place to come home to. Whether it’s eating hot dogs at Coney Island or going to the downtown tree-lighting, I can’t pinpoint one thing. It’s the general atmosphere.”

Contact Cory Galliher at cgalliher@times-news.com.