The adjutant general for the Virgin Islands (VING), Brig. Gen. Deborah Y. Howell, will host a retirement ceremony for her chief of staff, Colonel Linda Cills, after completing over 32 years of military service. It will take place at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 21, at the Joint Force Headquarters Drill Hall, Estate Bethlehem, St. Croix.
Col. Linda Cills joined the V. I. National Guard (VING) as a private first class in August 1985 after graduation from the College of the Virgin Islands. In January 1988, she was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and assigned as a public affairs officer in the 658th Public Affairs Detachment.
In 1995, she departed the territory to attend the Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course at Ft. Jackson, S.C.
In her 32 years of military service, Col. Cills has served in positions in various units and departments. They included public affairs officer, employee relations specialist, recruiting and retention manager, chief of internal review, plans operations and military support officer, special assistant to the adjutant general and deputy chief of staff for personnel.
Her recent assignment was chief of joint staff since January 2012.
Cills holds a B.A. in Business Administration and a Master’s in Public Administration. She graduated from the prestigious U.S. Army War College in 2013, where she earned a Masters in Strategic Studies. She is a graduate of the Adjutant General Basic and Advanced Officer Courses, the Supply Management Officer Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff Course, the Command and General Staff Officer Course, Joint Task Force Commander’s Course and the Dual Status Commander Course. She holds functional area qualification in public affairs and human resources.
Cills various awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NATO Medal, V.I. Long and Faithful Service Medal and the Puerto Rico Commendation Medal.
Col. Cills is the daughter of Oliver and Rita Cills of the British Virgin Islands.