Linda J. Bird
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral
Linda J. Bird, SC, USN, was the first woman in the United States Navy Supply Corps
promoted to flag rank.
in June 1974. Her sea duty tours include Stores Officer and Stock Control Officer, , and Supply Officer, .
Her shore duty tours include assignments as Director of the Navy Supply Corps
Museum; Food Service and Stock Control Officer, Naval Air Station
, Brunswick, Maine
; Material and Logistics Officer, U.S. Navy Public Works Center, Yokosuka, Japan; Aviation Consolidated Allowance List (AVCAL) and Consolidated Shipboard Allowance List (COSAL) Inventory and Financial Manager, Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Director, Systems Integrity Department, Naval Supply Center, Norfolk, Virginia
; and Head, Supply Policy Branch in the Supply Programs and Policy Division (N41), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
In 1994, Rear Adm. Bird joined the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) as Director, Navy Defense Business Operations Fund Division, and then served as Director of Supply Corps Assignment/Placement Branch, Office of Supply Corps Personnel, Bureau of Naval Personnel. In March 1998, she returned to NAVSUP Headquarters as Deputy Commander for Financial Management/Comptroller. In 1999, Bird was promoted to Rear Admiral (lower half) as the first female flag officer
in the Supply Corps
and was assigned as the Vice Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command. Bird served as director, Supply, Ordnance and Logistics Operations Division, N41, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., and was nominated for the rank of Rear Admiral (upper half) in July 2002.
Rear Admiral Bird became Commander of Defense Supply Center, Columbus
in Columbus, Ohio
, on July 18, 2003. As DSCC's Commander, Rear Adm. Bird oversaw an operating budget of $2.8 billion. She also directed the functions of 2,300 associates involved in purchasing materiel, monitoring inventory levels, maintaining technical data and assuring quality conformance of more than 1.6 million spare and repair parts used by over 24,000 military units and civilian federal agencies.
RADM Linda J. Bird retired November 1, 2005, after more than 31 years of service.
, Legion of Merit
, Meritorious Service Medal
, Navy Achievement Medal, and various campaign and unit awards.
, Auburn, Washington
in 1971, then transferred to Western Washington University
where she earned a degree in Secondary Education in 1973. She earned a master's degree
in inventory management in 1984 from the Naval Postgraduate School
in Monterey, California
.
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Linda J. Bird, SC, USN, was the first woman in the United States Navy Supply Corps
Navy Supply Corps (United States)
The Supply Corps of the United States Navy traces its beginnings to February 23, 1795 when the nation's first Purveyor of Public Supplies, Tench Francis, Jr., was appointed by President George Washington. The Supply Corps is one of the oldest staff corps in the U.S. Navy. Supply Corps officers are...
promoted to flag rank.
Navy career
Rear Admiral Bird received her Navy Commission through the Naval Officer Candidate SchoolOfficer Candidate School (U.S. Navy)
The United States Navy's Officer Candidate School, currently located at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, provides training to become a commissioned officer. Attendance is one possible way for civilian college graduates with no military experience to earn a commission as a U.S. Navy officer...
in June 1974. Her sea duty tours include Stores Officer and Stock Control Officer, , and Supply Officer, .
Her shore duty tours include assignments as Director of the Navy Supply Corps
Navy Supply Corps (United States)
The Supply Corps of the United States Navy traces its beginnings to February 23, 1795 when the nation's first Purveyor of Public Supplies, Tench Francis, Jr., was appointed by President George Washington. The Supply Corps is one of the oldest staff corps in the U.S. Navy. Supply Corps officers are...
Museum; Food Service and Stock Control Officer, Naval Air Station
Naval Air Station Brunswick
Naval Air Station Brunswick , also known as NAS Brunswick, was a military airport located northeast of Brunswick, Maine. The base was home to a number of Navy-operated Maritime patrol aircraft...
, Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, , and the...
; Material and Logistics Officer, U.S. Navy Public Works Center, Yokosuka, Japan; Aviation Consolidated Allowance List (AVCAL) and Consolidated Shipboard Allowance List (COSAL) Inventory and Financial Manager, Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Director, Systems Integrity Department, Naval Supply Center, Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
; and Head, Supply Policy Branch in the Supply Programs and Policy Division (N41), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
In 1994, Rear Adm. Bird joined the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) as Director, Navy Defense Business Operations Fund Division, and then served as Director of Supply Corps Assignment/Placement Branch, Office of Supply Corps Personnel, Bureau of Naval Personnel. In March 1998, she returned to NAVSUP Headquarters as Deputy Commander for Financial Management/Comptroller. In 1999, Bird was promoted to Rear Admiral (lower half) as the first female flag officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
in the Supply Corps
Navy Supply Corps (United States)
The Supply Corps of the United States Navy traces its beginnings to February 23, 1795 when the nation's first Purveyor of Public Supplies, Tench Francis, Jr., was appointed by President George Washington. The Supply Corps is one of the oldest staff corps in the U.S. Navy. Supply Corps officers are...
and was assigned as the Vice Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command. Bird served as director, Supply, Ordnance and Logistics Operations Division, N41, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., and was nominated for the rank of Rear Admiral (upper half) in July 2002.
Rear Admiral Bird became Commander of Defense Supply Center, Columbus
Defense Supply Center, Columbus
The Defense Supply Center, Columbus, also called DSCC, is one of three Inventory Control Points of the Defense Logistics Agency. The major organization on base is known as DLA Land and Maritime. Defense Finance and Accounting Service is also a major tenant on base. The base has been affected...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, on July 18, 2003. As DSCC's Commander, Rear Adm. Bird oversaw an operating budget of $2.8 billion. She also directed the functions of 2,300 associates involved in purchasing materiel, monitoring inventory levels, maintaining technical data and assuring quality conformance of more than 1.6 million spare and repair parts used by over 24,000 military units and civilian federal agencies.
RADM Linda J. Bird retired November 1, 2005, after more than 31 years of service.
Awards and decorations
Her personal awards include the Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service Medal
The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
, Navy Achievement Medal, and various campaign and unit awards.
Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalAchievement MedalThe Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service...
Education
Rear Adm. Bird graduated from Green River Community CollegeGreen River Community College
Green River Community College is a community college located in Auburn, Washington, USA. It has a student body of approximately 10,000.-History:...
, Auburn, Washington
Auburn, Washington
-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...
in 1971, then transferred to Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
where she earned a degree in Secondary Education in 1973. She earned a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in inventory management in 1984 from the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
in Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
.