National Guard To Host Farewell Event For Colonel After 32 Years Of Service

ST. CROIX — Virgin Islands National Guard Brigadier General Deborah Howell will host a retirement ceremony for her chief of staff, Colonel Linda Cills, above, after completing over 32 years of military service, the Guard made known Monday.

The will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Joint Force Headquarters Drill Hall, Estate Bethlehem, St. Croix.

Colonel Linda Cills joined the V. I. National Guard 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 Second 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, SC.

In her 32 years of military service, COL Cills served in positions in various units and departments. They included Public Affairs Officer, Employee Relations Specialist, Recruiting & Retention Manager, Chief of Internal Review, Plans Operations & 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.

COL Cills holds a BA degree 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 & General Staff Officer Course, Joint Task Force Commander’s course and the Dual Status Commander course. COL Cills holds functional area qualification in public affairs and human resources.

COL 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, VI 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.