Linda Gould serves as a Community Connection Consultant for The Patterson Foundation. In this role, she shares The Patterson Foundation's story with the community as part of its Speakers Bureau. She also consults on the Patriot Plaza initiative sharing its story, purpose, and impact with individuals and the many ways organizations can use Patriot Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery. Linda works closely with the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, assisting with training and recruiting volunteers as Patriot Plaza Guides who ensure that visitors to Patriot Plaza receive a memorable experience.

Linda retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Army in 2011, with more than 29 years of active duty service. A fluent Spanish speaker, she served first as a Military Intelligence Officer and then as a fully accredited Latin American Foreign Area Officer. Her career highlight is being the first female Army officer to command a U.S. Military Group in Latin America, serving as the Commander of U.S. Military Group Guatemala from 2006– 2009. She completed her final tour of duty as the Deputy Chief of Studies at the InterAmerican Defense College at Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C., in July 2011.

Linda holds a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. She received her undergraduate degree in International Studies/Latin America from the University of South Florida.

Join Linda on Twitter: @llgouldsrq

To contact Linda: llgouldsrq@gmail.com