FMA’s Linda Lentjes is Manager of the Year
Linda Lentjes, a member of FMA Chapter 396, Naval Station Mayport, in Jacksonville, Florida, was named FMA's Manager of the Year. She was recognized for this outstanding achievement at FMA’s 85th Annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar.FMA National President Craig Carter praised Lentjes, saying, “I can’t say enough about what Linda means to FMA and the Department of the Navy. She truly lives out FMA’s motto of “advocating excellence for public service. Her wisdom and thoughtful leadership are evident through her exceptional service on FMA’s Executive Board and her achievements at Naval Station Mayport help ensure the U.S. Navy remains the most dominant seafaring force the world has ever known.”
Linda’s career with the Department of Defense has spanned more than 40 years, starting as a GS-2 temporary employee in the administrative field. She rose through the ranks and was selected for the position of Resource and Requirements Director/Comptroller with U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet, Naval Station Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida in 2005, where she continues to work today in this leadership position. She embodies the Association’s mission at her agency, in her community, and as a leader within FMA.
Lentjes serves as principal advisor to the Commander on all matters related to financial resource management functions, including programming and budgeting, financial analysis and accounting, and audit readiness. She provides policy advice and resolves complex funding requirements supporting deployments and missions in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility. Successes include multiple deployments of the USNS Comfort Hospital ship, contingency operations supporting hurricane and natural disaster aid to countries in the region, and various annual joint military exercises and engagements.
Linda joined FMA Chapter 11, Fleet Readiness Center, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1997 and helped establish a separate FMA chapter (396) at Naval Station Mayport in 2007, where she holds the position of Chapter President. In 2016 she was elected FMA Region 2 Director and has provided counsel and guidance as a member of FMA’s national executive board. She is also vocal and actively supportive of FMA’s legislative agenda, regularly meeting with Representatives and Senators and advocating for the interests of managers and supervisors. In the 117th Congress, Linda was so persuasive that a call with one of her Representatives directly led to that Member of Congress cosponsoring a bill to make it bipartisan.
The FMA Manager of the Year award is presented annually to an outstanding manager or supervisor in the federal government who is a member of the Federal Managers Association. The selection committee reviews three categories in determining the winner:
• Workplace accomplishments/contributions
• FMA involvement at the chapter, regional or national levels
• Local community accomplishments/contributions
“FMA, the Department of the Navy, and our nation are privileged to have a leader like Linda Lentjes,” Carter continued. “Her dedicated service on behalf of the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and her steady presence and leadership at FMA are hallmarks of what our association stands for. I am proud to
have such a remarkable person representing FMA. She has certainly earned the title of FMA Manager of the Year! Congratulations on this honor, and thank you, Linda, for your service.”
If you are not already a member of FMA, please consider becoming a member.
The views reflected in this column are those of FMA and do not necessarily represent the views of FEDmanager. To learn more about the Federal Managers Association (FMA), visit their website: FedManagers.org.