Linda J. Bird

Rear Admiral Linda Jeanne Bird, SC, USN, was the first woman in the United States Navy Supply Corps promoted to flag rank.

Early life Bird is a native of Auburn, Washington. She earned a master's degree in inventory management in 1984 from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Her shore duty tours include assignments as director of the Navy Supply Corps Museum; food service and stock control officer of Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine; material and logistics officer of 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 of the Systems Integrity Department, Naval Supply Center, Norfolk, Virginia; and head of the Supply Policy Branch in the Supply Programs and Policy Division (N41), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

Bird became commander of Defense Supply Center, Columbus in Columbus, Ohio, on July 18, 2003. As DSCC's commander, 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.

Bird retired November 1, 2005, after more than 31 years of service.

Awards and decorations Her personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various campaign and unit awards.