Linell Letendre

Linell Letendre is a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force and the Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Early Life and Education
Letendre received a Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996 as a distinguished graduate. While at the Academy, she served as the Cadet Wing Commander, the highest ranking cadet at the institution. In 2001, she received her Juris Doctor with high honors from the University of Washington School of Law.

Career
Letendre briefly served as an acquisitions officer before being selected to attend law school and become a Judge Advocate. She served as the primary legal counsel for the Comprehensive Working Group, the committee which ultimately recommended the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

In 2015, Letendre was selected to lead the Law Department at the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Senate-confirmed position that includes a promotion to Colonel.

In 2019, Letendre was selected from more than 40 applicants to replace Andrew Armacost as the Air Force Academy Dean of the Faculty. As Dean, she commands 750 faculty and staff and directs more than $350 million in resources. Letendre's command is responsible for designing and instructing more than 500 courses in 32 disciplines to over 4,000 cadets each year.