Major General Linda L. Singh
MSA SC 3520-17103
Extended Biography:
Major General Linda Lee Singh is an inspirational woman who has never ceased to strive for more despite overwhelming odds. Her steadfast commitment to the armed forces, the Maryland community, and personal excellence have led her to become the first woman and first African-American adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard.
Linda Singh was born in rural western Maryland in 1964. She lived with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in an old, cramped four-room house in Urbana of Frederick County, Maryland, for the first eight years of her life.1 Despite the fact that the house was bursting with people and had no indoor plumbing, Singh said she never realized her family was disadvantaged, because of the plentiful love that her family shared. Her grandmother, a nanny and house cleaner, would take the hand-me-downs from the families she worked for to clothe the children in her own family. Gestures like these characterize Singh's early childhood, and she remembers them fondly. 2
Singh moved to her parents’ home when she was nine years old, and her life took a more turbulent turn as she grew up. As a teenager, Singh kept up an admirable high school career at Linganore High School in Frederick, Maryland. She played on the varsity basketball team and made the honor roll; however, she faced many problems at home. Since she was 5 years old, Singh was subject to sexual abuse by her relatives.3 Singh left home at 15 years old, after she confronted her parents about an incident and they did not believe her. She rented out a small room in an elderly couple’s house, and continued to attend high school and play on the basketball team, while also working small jobs in an effort to support herself. This amount of work proved too difficult for Singh, and she left her rented room and sought shelter elsewhere. As a homeless teen, she remembered staying with friends, sleeping on porches, or camping out in the back office of the pretzel stand at the Francis Scott Key Mall, where she worked. Though she took pride in the work she did at Linganore, Singh could not keep up with all of her newfound duties and responsibility, and was subsequently forced to drop out of high school.4 5
In a serendipitous turn, one day in the late spring of 1981, Singh spotted a National Guard recruiting table set up across from the pretzel stand. Singh joined the National Guard on June 3, 1981. She was only 17 at the time, and had to persuade her parents to sign off on her forms. She has said that, “It was the best thing they ever did for me. It turned my life around.”6 7
After joining the National Guard, Singh’s career was launched. Following her aspirations of attending electrical engineering school and becoming a lineman, Singh began her career with the National Guard as a radar repairer.8 A new challenge quickly arose in Singh’s personal life, however, when she became pregnant with her first child. While she was in training, Singh married her first husband and also began raising her child. This change in her personal life also forced her to switch from the dangers of radar repair (a site that is often targeted with bombs), to working in personnel. Singh had to make some tough decisions when her marriage did not work out, and she subsequently became a single mother. She recollected that she would often have to leave work early without official consent, in order to take care of her child. These circumstances were rough on her reputation in the Guard, but Singh was determined to reach past them and rebuild herself as a fine, distinguished soldier.9 She would greatly exceed her expectations.
Singh continued her rise within the Guard, and also finished her high school education. After having been enlisted for 11 years, and serving on every level of command from company to regiment levels, Singh decided to pursue officer positions through the Officer Candidate School (OCS) of the Maryland Army National Guard.10 Many pushed her to pursue greater leadership positions. Singh even recalled one instance where a sergeant bluntly told her that she was simply “too bossy to stay enlisted.”11 She graduated from OCS with distinctions in 1991, and went on to become a commissioned officer. Three years later, she earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Columbia Union College.12
Singh was deployed to Kosovo in 2006 and 2007 with the 29th Infantry Division as an assistant chief of staff for logistics. In 2011, she was sent on a combat tour in Afghanistan.13 As a newly commissioned colonel, Singh was sent to Afghanistan to lead operations coordination between Western forces and the Afghan military and police.14 Singh had primarily worked in logistics and support, but was very intentionally moved into this new leadership position by her superiors so that she would be exposed to new experiences, and therefore make her eligible for higher ranks.15 In her tours, Singh earned a Bronze Star Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, and a Meritorious Service Medal, among many other honors. Upon returning from Afghanistan in 2012, Singh became the director of the Maryland National Guard Joint Staff. In 2013, she was appointed by Governor Martin O’Malley as the brigadier general and commander of the Maryland Army National Guard. She was the first woman and first African-American person to take up this post. Upon her appointment, Governor O’Malley remarked that Singh was “an extremely effective leader with the drive to take the Maryland Army National Guard to new heights and keep the organization among the best in the nation.”16
In January 2015, Singh was appointed the 29th adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard by Governor Larry Hogan. In the change-of-command ceremony where she officially became adjutant general, Governor Hogan described her as “a tough, savvy, and resourceful commander.”17 She is already a woman who has claimed many “firsts,” Singh yet again proved herself pioneer as the first woman and first African-American person to take up the role of adjutant general. In this position, Singh is in charge of more than 6,700 National Guard members, Defense Force volunteers, and civilian employees, a $314 million budget, and the official channel of communication between the National Guard Bureau and the governor.18
Singh’s strong, charismatic leadership has already drawn the attention of many, allowing her a platform to really make a difference in the Guard. Her incredible trajectory from an impoverished, homeless adolescent to the head of the state National Guard inspires many. It’s not only her life story, however, but Singh’s personal mission as adjutant general to enhance two facets of the Maryland National Guard: diversity and mentorship.19 Diversity is a large part of her vision for the Maryland Military Department. "It's not just diversity of people," she has said. "It's diversity of thought and diversity of capability." 20 In several interviews, Major General Singh noted the importance of learning from those of different backgrounds, recalling her time in Afghanistan. Much of her work as chief of operations coordination was based in cooperating with many different people in order to develop the most successful, well-rounded solutions. She said of this time,
“We were all there to roll out solutions for the Afghan people, but we had to understand each other’s perspectives first and then put aside cultural differences. I’ve read that diversity makes for better teams, better boards, better companies. In Afghanistan, I saw this every minute of every day.”21
In another interview, Singh said that “when we start understanding and respecting differences of each other,” we are able “to grow as individuals.”22
As a woman in a very male-dominated career, Singh strongly believes in mentoring other women to ensure their success and create strong support networks. Master Sgt. Fanny Marini deployed to Afghanistan under Singh's command in 2011. During this time, Marini and Singh built a rapport. Marini wanted to be the first woman on her team to be approved to drive around the Green Zone in Afghanistan, and under Singh's leadership, she achieved this goal. Marini says that, “Without being on her team, being under her leadership, there wasn't any way I was going to get promoted.”23 This mentorship demonstrates Singh’s dedication to expanding the diversity of the military. She does not just represent diversity, but actively works towards nurturing diversity by promoting mentorship.
Major General Singh has already faced major challenges in her new position as adjutant general. During the unrest in Baltimore in the spring of 2015, Singh and her troops were called into the city to keep the peace. This controversial call increased tensions for many; however, in several interviews at the time, Singh emphasized the fact that she and her troops are a part of Baltimore and Maryland communities, and are therefore committed to ensuring the safety of all: “We are members of the community, as well. It’s not like we’re going to turn around and just leave, because we’re here. This is our home.” Singh also articulated her connections with those in Baltimore who have been rioting and looting. She empathized with the plight of those experiencing racism and poverty, and hoped that her own journey could inspire others to hope for more. Singh stated,
“I want to be a role model… I came from a place of poverty… I didn’t have running water in my house. I didn’t have an indoor bathroom. For the first nine years of my life… that was home… Knowing what it’s like to grow up where you want more for yourself. I want to be able to be the representative or the individual that wants that… I want to represent the community and I want to do it in a way that they can be proud of.”24
Singh’s leadership in this charged time helped usher in a peaceful resolution to the unrest in Baltimore.
Singh has also bravely spoken out about sexual assault in the military and has shared her own experiences as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and sexual harassment in the military. One of the top issues that the military must deal with are rising reports of sexual assault in the ranks. In an investigative report on this issue, Singh came forward to talk about the the topic that “everyone is uncomfortable talking about.”25 She recalled when she was a young enlisted soldier first starting out in the National Guard, that a military supervisor began making inappropriate advances toward her. Rather than staying silent, Singh brought her concerns to her sergeant, who helped her. Singh is believed to be the highest-ranking officer in the armed forces to publicly discuss her own experience of abuse. As a survivor of sexual abuse and harassment, the general is confident that she can better understand the perspectives of other victims, and thereby more easily help them. She has said, “I want to be a transparent leader. I want to be able to save someone from maybe thinking of taking their own life because they feel like they have no other choice.”26 Singh also asserted that she takes a no-tolerance stance on sexual assault, and is resolute about holding all people accountable, no matter their rank or circumstance.27 On her mission to make the armed forces better in terms of sexual assault, Singh said, “We’re going to dare… Daring to do something that no other will do, because it’s going to invoke the right response.”28
Singh not only has a successful military career, but also a successful business career in her civilian employment. She continued her studies in business and strategy, and earned a Master of Business Administration from Touro International University in 2004 and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College in 2008.29 Her civilian job is as a managing director with the multi-national contracting group Accenture. She uses her background in the military to inform her leadership and relate to clients. Like her ascent in the military, Singh’s rise at Accenture came through an unstoppable diligence. She started with Accenture at the bottom, and rose up the ranks through merit.30 In recognition for her exemplary contributions to the business world, The Network Journal named Singh one of the Top 25 Influential Black Women in Business in 2014. In an interview, Singh delivered words of advice that she says have led her to success: “It’s making sure… you are taking advantage. When someone asks you to step forward, it’s important that you step forward and you do it.”31
Singh is a busy woman, whose success in both her military and business careers require constant diligence; however, she continues to learn and educate others. She was recently a lecturer at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University for their International Women’s Day celebration where she was introduced to the audience as “an exemplar of the notion of service before self.”32 In this lecture, Singh talked about another of her passions, which is the strengthening of the relationship between communities and the military. Singh has also completed the International Women’s Leadership Fellowship Program at Harvard University, a program that hones leading business women’s strategic, marketing, and global affairs abilities.33 She was recently honored by The Daily Record as a 2015 Influential Marylander in their civic engagement category.34 Singh is also currently pursuing a doctorate in industrial and organizational psychology through Capella University.35
A lifelong resident of Maryland with over 30 years in the military and counting, Singh boldly treads where many would not even think about going. Her inspirational story, her devotion to diversity in the armed forces, and her unabating commitment to excellence have made her an inspirational leader and a role model for many, and she is proudly honored in the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame.
Endnotes:
Linda Singh, “Top Maryland National Guard General shares her experiences at Black History Month Program,” YouTube video, 42:39, posted by “NationalGuard,” 20 February 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTPSaJUgKag. Return to text.
Ibid. Return to text.
Linda Singh, “Serving in Silence: Two-Star General Wants to Change How National Guard Deals With Sexual Assaults,” interview by Tisha Thompson, NBC 4 Washington, 22 April 2015, http://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Serving-in-Silence-How-a-Childhood-Secret-is-Reshaping-the-Maryland-National-Guard-300976021.html. Return to text.
Sylvia Carrigan, “Portraits of Success: State’s senior military officer had tough start in Frederick,” The Frederick News-Post, 24 February 2015, accessed 24 June 2015, http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/governmental_and_political_topics/military/portraits-of-success-state-s-senior-military-officer-had-tough/article_28bfc49d-7b93-518e-99f8-e62230a5b570.html?_dc=323287750361.48724. Return to text.
Ian Duncan, “With personable style, new general takes over the National Guard,” The Sun, 26 February 2015, accessed 24 June 2015, http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-general-singh-profile-20150226-story.html#page=1. Return to text.
Carrigan, “Portraits of Success: State’s senior military officer had tough start in Frederick.” Return to text.
Patricia Sellers, “A former Accenture exec, once homeless, leads the National Guard’s efforts to quell the Baltimore riots,” Forutne, 28 April 2015, accessed 24 June 2015, http://fortune.com/2015/04/28/accenture-exec-once-homeless-is-a-general/. Return to text.
Duncan, “With personable style, new general takes over the National Guard.” Return to text.
Linda Singh, “Brig. Gen. Linda Singh recounts her experiences as a Soldier,” YouTube video, 7:47, posted by “Maryland Guard,” 28 February 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzPyJqRgXRo. Return to text.
Matthew Hay Brown, “Singh to command Md. Army National Guard,” The Sun, 9 August 2013, accessed 24 June 2015, http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-08-09/news/bs-md-brig-gen-linda-singh-20130809_1_adkins-maryland-national-guard-brig. Return to text.
Duncan, “With personable style, new general takes over the National Guard.” Return to text.
National Guard Bureau, “Major General (MD) Linda L. Singh,” National Guard Bureau Biography, last updated April 2015, accessed 24 June 2015, http://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2761.html. Return to text.
Carrigan, “Portraits of Success: State’s senior military officer had tough start in Frederick.” Return to text.
Duncan, “With personable style, new general takes over the National Guard.” Return to text.
Ibid. Return to text.
Brown, “Singh to command Md. Army National Guard.” Return to text.
“Maj. Gen. Linda Singh takes command,” YouTube video, 1:39, posted by “Maryland Guard,” 3 March 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r756YQy8Ok. Return to text.
Maryland National Guard, “Major General (MD) Linda L. Singh,” Maryland National Guard, accessed 24 June 2015, http://www.md.ngb.army.mil/absolutenm/templates/?a=726. Return to text.
Sellers, “A former Accenture exec, once homeless, leads the National Guard’s efforts to quell the Baltimore riots.” Return to text.
Carrigan, “Portraits of Success: State’s senior military officer had tough start in Frederick.” Return to text.
Sellers, “A former Accenture exec, once homeless, leads the National Guard’s efforts to quell the Baltimore riots.” Return to text.
Linda Singh, “Maj. Gen. Linda Singh urges for peace in Baltimore,” interview by Deborah Wiener, YouTube video, 6:24, posted by “WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore,” 1 May 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOVpo2A6KK0. Return to text.
Carrigan, “Portraits of Success: State’s senior military officer had tough start in Frederick.” Return to text.
Singh, “Maj. Gen. Linda Singh urges for peace in Baltimore.” Return to text.
Singh, “Serving in Silence: Two-Star General Wants to Change How National Guard Deals With Sexual Assaults.” Return to text.
Matthew Hay Brown, “National Guard commander leads from experience,” The Sun, 14 June 2014, http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-06-14/news/bs-md-national-guard-general-linda-singh-20140614_1_service-members-maryland-national-guard-sexual-assault. Return to text.
Singh, “Serving in Silence: Two-Star General Wants to Change How National Guard Deals With Sexual Assaults.” Return to text.
Singh, “Top Maryland National Guard General shares her experiences at Black History Month Program.” Return to text.
National Guard Bureau, “Major General (MD) Linda L. Singh.” Return to text.
Linda Singh, “TNJ 25 Influential Black Women in Business - Linda L Singh,” interview by Stacie NC Grant, YouTube video, 4:30, posted by “Aziz Gueye Adetimirn,” 3 April 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiPNFFRf8AA. Return to text.
Ibid. Return to text.
Linda Singh, “Community and Military Engagement,” YouTube video, 1:23:05, posted by “Maxwell School of Syracuse University,” 17 March 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxhHRfzj7yI. Return to text.
Singh, “TNJ 25 Influential Black Women in Business - Linda L Singh.” Return to text.
Daily Record Staff, “The Daily Record unveils Influential Marylander honorees,” The Daily Record, 29 January 2015, http://thedailyrecord.com/2015/01/29/the-daily-record-unveils-influential-marylander-honorees/. Return to text.
Biography written by 2015 summer intern Amelia Meman.
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