Jean F. Portwood Lindquist

Class of 1962
Career Pathway:

Jean F. Portwood Lindquist was nominated by class president Mike Young, Sherm Neal and Gary Russell, all fellow 1962 GHS graduates.

While a student at GHS, Jean served on the yearbook staff, sang in the Glee Club, performed in the junior and senior class plays and was treasurer of the senior class.

From 1964 to 1989, Jean worked in the private sector as a secretary, paralegal, administrative assistant, corporate executive secretary and medical transcriber.

In 1989 she earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering at Arizona State University and in 1990 a certificate in production engineering from the U.S. Army Material Command School of Engineering and Logistics. In 1992, she earned a master of science degree in industrial and systems engineering from Texas A&M University. From 1993 to 1996, she did postgraduate work in engineering management and expert systems courses at the University of Kentucky and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, then did more training and earned more certifications from the U.S. Department of Defense. 

From 1989 on, Jean had an extensive work history with the U.S. military:

• 1989-1990, an intern for the School of Engineering and Logistics, U.S. Army Material Command (USAMC), Red River Army Department, Texarkana, Texas.
• From 1991-1994, a general engineer for the Army Material Readiness Support Activity in Lexington, Kentucky, where she managed the Navy versions of artificial intelligence expert system software designed to assist acquisition corps personnel.
• From 1995-1998, a general engineer for the USAMC, Sparkman Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, where she was the lead engineer for the U.S. Arms Control Data Management System in support of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.
• From 1998-2002, a general engineer for the USAMC, Sparkman Center, where she was team leader for the Post-Fielding Support Analysis Program, a joint service logistics software application, and an equal employment opportunity counselor. 
• From 2002-2003, a logistics management specialist for the Headquarters U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (SETAF) in Vicenza, Italy, where she was a team leader for the Support and Transportation Systems Branch, Logistics Automation Division, responsible for planning, organizing and coordinating maintenance and accountability aspects of the Standard Army Management Information Systems, which included providing 24/7 on-call support to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• From 2003-2004, a supervisor logistics management specialist for SETAF, Chief, Logistics Automation Division, where she was the principal technical adviser to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics.
• From 2004-2009, the deputy chief of staff for logistics, Headquarters U.S. Africa/SETAF, where she served as senior civilian adviser to the Command for Logistics and as its command general engineer. 
• From 2005-2006, the assistant chief of staff for logistics, SETAF, including support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and logistics lead for the eventual transformation of SETAF to the Army Component Command for Africa (AFRICOM).

Ms. Lindquist's awards and honors include:

• Membership in Tau Beta, the national engineering honor society, and Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering honor society.
• Ten plus years of Exceptional Service Cash Awards while with the USAMC.
• Commander's Awards for Civilian Service (comparable to the Military Army Commendation Medal) in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
• Superior Civilian Service Award in 2006 and 2009 -- the Army's third highest award for deployed civilians.
• Association of the U.S. Army Citation for Exceptional Service in 2006 for her outstanding service as the principal logistics officer for Headquarters of SETAF.

The nominators wrote that the bulk of Ms. Lindquist's Department of Defense career was devoted to making life easier for military personnel and their families. For example:

• Her Association of the U.S. Army Exceptional Service Award cited her "countless hours supporting the deployed soldiers through weekly shipments of 'care' packages and luncheons, retreats, home visits and meetings for the Family Readiness group." 
• She ensured that the single soldiers' barracks were refitted and ready for soldiers returning from Afghanistan.
• During the transformation to AFRICOM, she "provided the full range of Family Readiness Group support to families of deployed soldiers in the Vicenza Military Community, including off-site events, seminars, social functions, logistical assistance for Red Cross family emergencies and assistance with family/financial/housing issues . . .:
• She was a college lecturer on women in non-traditional roles and expert systems.

They also quoted a Department of Defense award that read that "no contribution toward improving the lives of others was greater than her day-to-day responsibilities to ensure that our troops were combat ready logistically in the areas of supply, maintenance, transportation, procurement, logistics automation, host nation support, food service field services, and health services."

Ms. Lindquist -- the mother of two daughters, grandmother of seven and great grandmother of four -- died in 2016.

Her nominators concluded: "Jean’s academic and leadership activities at GHS prepared her well for an exceptional career highlighted by extended service with the Department of Defense making life easier for military personnel and their families serving overseas. During her career, Jean received many awards and honors from her engineering profession and for her service with the DOD, including high accolades related to her tireless efforts during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Jean represents the best qualities of the Class of ’62, GHS, and those who serve our nation through public service."