On Monday, December 4, U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lintker visited Okawville High School. He is currently a National Security Affairs Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California. Lieutenant Colonel Linkter is a 2001 graduate of Okawville High School. After high school, he furthered his education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. Due to the horrific attacks of 9/11, Lintker decided to join the U.S. Air Force, where he was later deployed to many different areas. Lintker also has three other degrees. He has a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Southern, a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University, and a Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy from Air University.
Linkter talked to Okawville students about various topics. He first covered the Space Force and a short overview of his life since graduating here at OHS. He discussed the many places he has lived since becoming part of the military. For example, he has lived in Lompoc, CA, Great Falls, MT, Lac Cruces, NM, Colarado Springs, CO, Montgomery, AL, Alexandria, VA, and Redwood City, CA. He had also visited numerous countries. He had four main quotes he left us with. The first one was, “No one knows the future… but you can shape it.” He explained that we can not predict or know the future but we can make decisions and actions that will shape the future. The second one was, “Life is full of uncertainty… and you are a product of your decisions.” He elaborated by saying that he can point out certain decisions he made that shaped the way his life is now. He said that sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone and make decisions that will challenge you. He also said that as a child and young adult, he was very introverted. He said he had to learn to talk in front of others and step out of his comfort zone. He has now talked to high officials in the military and even Vice President Kamala Harris. His third lesson was his leadership philosophy. There were three main points to this philosophy: treat everyone with dignity and respect, stand by your actions, and be committed to your job. He said these three things are what it takes to be a good leader. Lastly, he ended his speech with a quote he told his soldiers. “Be confident enough in yourself to take a risk, but knowledgeable enough to know when.” He explained it’s good to take risks but not every risk is a smart risk. Lt. Col. Lintker’s speech was very beneficial to all students. We thank him for coming to visit us, and wish him the best of luck with the rest of his career!
