Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Michael 'Mike' Linnington is a retired United States Army Lieutenant General with a distinguished 35-year military career focused on logistics, command, and support for service members. Commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1980, he served in various leadership roles, including as Commanding General of the Joint Munitions Command and as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G-4) at the Army headquarters. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, contributing to operational logistics during combat operations, and received numerous military awards for his service, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, and Legion of Merit.
After retiring from active duty in 2016, Linnington transitioned to civilian roles in veterans' affairs. From 2016 to 2017, he served as the Deputy Secretary for Management at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where he managed operations, budget, and information technology to improve veteran services amid ongoing reforms. In 2017, he became the Chief Executive Officer of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a major nonprofit supporting post-9/11 veterans and their families through programs in mental health, career counseling, and long-term care. Under his leadership, WWP has emphasized financial transparency and program expansion following earlier controversies over spending. He served as CEO until 2023.
Linnington's career reflects a deep commitment to military and veteran welfare, bridging active-duty experience with nonprofit and governmental efforts to address the needs of wounded warriors and their support networks. He also served as the Commanding General of the Military District of Washington and as the Vice Director for Logistics on the Joint Staff (J-4).