The U.S. Air Force Academy announced on Friday that Col. Linell Letendre is the remaining finalist in the selection process for the Academy's eleventh Dean of the Faculty. The announcement follows an exhaustive panel process, in coordination with Air Force senior leaders, in which more than 40 applicants were vetted and evaluated for the position.

"This is wonderful news for our cadets, our faculty, and our Academy," said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria. "Linell's leadership and commitment to world-class education and leader development will be invaluable to the USAFA team. She has a tremendous perspective that will integrate and elevate our institution and our Air Force leaders of tomorrow."

Letendre is currently the Permanent Professor and Head of the Department of Law at the United States Air Force Academy. She leads a team of twenty faculty and staff in the design and teaching of nineteen core and elective law courses, in scholarship across a variety of disciplines, and in the development of officers of character.

Letendre graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1996 as a Distinguished Graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering. After serving as an acquisition officer, Letendre became a judge advocate through the Funded Legal Education Program. She graduated from the University of Washington Law School with high honors and was named to the Order of the Coif and the Order of the Barristers. She is barred at the U.S. Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Washington, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.