VA #Veteranoftheday – Jennifer Linton

Each day, the VA honors a special military veteran for their dedicated service on their blog, VAntage Point. Today’s feature is Air Force Veteran Jennifer Linton, who served 23 years and retired as a chief master sergeant.

Jennifer Linton joined the Air Force June 21st 1982 as a way of “giving back” to her country. Her twin sister also joined at the same time. 

After graduating training, Linton entered diet therapy specialist training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, were she graduated with honors. She then spent the next six years at Whiteman AFB, Missouri and in 1990 she became superintendent of the Nutritional Medicine Flight at the 27th Medical Group at Cannon AFB, New Mexico.

Linton was then deployed to Saudi Arabia from November 1992 to March 1993 as a postal specialist. When she returned to Cannon AFB, she completed her associates degree in Food and Nutritional science and received her Dietary Manager and Food Protection professional certification. 

Linton continued her service as Superintendent, Nutritional Medicine Flight at Andrews AFB, managing all nutritional medicine operations for over 250,000 personnel. She also oversaw the the nutritional care of 7,500 inpatients and 70,000 outpatients each year. 

In July of 2000, served as superintendent to the 89th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, where she supported the management of daily activities and the squadron commander. Then in April of 2001 she went on to serve as the 89th Airlift Wing Inspector General superintendent, where she assisted the inspector general with more than 60 units.  Linton then served as superintendent to the 436th Medical Group at Dover Air Force Base, which included the coordination of care for 16,000 TRICARE Prime beneficiaries, until her retirement Oct. 1, 2005.

Through her 23 years of service, she earned a Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, an Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, an Air Force Achievement Medal, a National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze star. She was also promoted to the highest enlisted rank of chief master sergeant.

Since retiring, Linton has earned her bachelor’s in food dietetics and nutrition, as well as her master’s degree in health promotion. Linton now works as a registered dietician and teaches nutrition as an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware. 

Thank you for your service!