Rear Admiral Linda R. Wackerman grew up in Key Biscayne, Florida. She is a graduate from Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colorado with a B.S. in Aerospace Science, M.A. with Pennsylvania State University in Homeland Security, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI alumni. She was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1987.

Her active duty tours include HC-3, the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS); and fleet tour assignment with HC-11, NASNI, California flying the H-46D and deployed to WESTPAC. RADM Wackerman was assigned to shore duty with VT-6 and the Instructor Training Unit, NAS Whiting Field, Florida instructing flight training in the T-34C Mentor. Her Full Time Support (FTS) officer duty assignments were both at NAS JRB Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, as the Assistant Reserve Program Director for 2,300 reservists and flying the UC-12B; and VR-52, flying the C-9B/DC-9 providing world-wide fleet logistics support.

RADM Wackerman became a Selected Reservist (SELRES) with VR-52 in June 1999 where she became the Commanding Officer of VR-52. Subsequent SELRES tours include training officer of Navy Reserve Capabilities Assessment Unit (OPNAV N8) in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. She served as the Commanding Officer for Navy Reserve, Commander, Navy Region Mid Atlantic, Region Operations Center (ROC) in Norfolk, Virginia. She then served as Commanding Officer, Navy Reserve, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Operations and Planning N3/N5 unit in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. She was assigned as Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (NEPLO) for the state of Pennsylvania and Deputy Commander for the NEPLO Program at Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC). She then served as the Commander, NR CNIC NEPLO leading the NEPLO Program; and COS for the WNY Shooting.

Her flag assignments include Reserve Deputy Director, Assessment Division, OPNAV N81 and Deputy, Naval Inspector General, and Deputy Commander USNAVSO and FOURTH Fleet.

Rear Admiral Wackerman’s personal military decorations include the Legion of Merit (4th Award), Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3rd award). She was selected as 2005 Federal Women and 1995 NAS JRB Willow Grove Women of the Year. She is a 757/767 International Pilot with American Airlines where she has accumulated over 5,400 military and 10,000 civilian flight hours. After retiring in 2019, she continues to serve as the Navy Representative for Secretary of Defense’s Reserve Forces Policy Board, an appointed Professional Standards National Volunteer for Allied Pilots Association for all American Airlines’ Pilots, an Executive Board Member for the Boy Scouts of America Washington Crossing Council and the YMCA of Bucks County.

(Aug 2019)