Brig. Gen. Linell A. Letendre is Dean of the Faculty, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. She commands the 750-member Dean of Faculty mission element and oversees the annual design and instruction of more than 500 undergraduate courses for 4,000 cadets across 32 academic disciplines. She also directs the operation of five support staff agencies and faculty resources involving more than $350 million.
The general graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1996 as a distinguished graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering. After serving as an Acquisition Officer, Brig. Gen. Letendre became a Judge Advocate through the Funded Legal Education Program. She graduated from the University of Washington law school with high honors and was named to the Order of the Coif and the Order of the Barristers. She is barred at the U.S. Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Washington, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. Prior to this assignment, she served as the Permanent Professor and Head of the Air Force Academy’s Department of Law.
Brig. Gen. Letendre previously served as a Staff Judge Advocate at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and also represented the Air Force in appellate review of all courts-martial as the Deputy Chief Trial and Appellate Counsel. Additionally, she previously served as the Legal Advisor for the DoD Comprehensive Review Working Group, where she advised on legal and policy issues surrounding repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." She also defended the Air Force in a range of federal civil litigation involving military personnel, served as Chief of Strategic Communication for the Judge Advocate General and defended Airmen as an area defense counsel.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Astronautical Engineering, distinguished graduate, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2001 Juris Doctor, high honors, University of Washington School of Law, Seattle
2003 Squadron Officer School, distinguished graduate, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2015 Eisenhower School, National Defense University, distinguished graduate, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1996–September 1998, Project Officer, Joint Air-to-Surface Program Office, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
2. September 1998–August 2001, Funded Legal Education Program, University of Washington, Seattle
3. August 2001–June 2003, Chief of Environmental Law and General Law, 375th Airlift Wing, Scott AFB, Ill.
4. June 2003–June 2004, Area Defense Counsel, Scott AFB, Ill.
5. June 2004–June 2007, Assistant Professor of Law, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
6. July 2007–July 2008, Chief of Strategic Communication Branch, Office of the Judge Advocate General, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. July 2008–November 2009, Deputy Chief, Military Personnel Branch, General Litigation Division of Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Arlington, Va.
8. November 2009–February 2010, Executive Officer, Civil Law and Litigation Directorate, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Arlington, Va.
9. February 2010–December 2010, Legal Advisor, DoD Comprehensive Review Working Group, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. January 2011–April 2011, Air Staff Counsel, Administrative Law Division, Office of the Judge Advocate General, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. May 2011–June 2012, Deputy Chief, Trial and Appellate Government Counsel Division, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
12. July 2012–July 2014, Staff Judge Advocate, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott AFB, Ill.
13. July 2014–June 2015, Student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2015–October 2019, Permanent Professor and Head, Department of Law, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
15. July 2018–October 2019, Chair, Social Sciences Division, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
16. October 2019–present, Dean of the Faculty, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 1996
First Lieutenant May 29, 1998
Captain May 29, 2000
Major April 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2011
Colonel July 2, 2015
Brigadier General Oct. 2, 2019
(Current as of November 2019)