Description
Clifton K. Linde brings 23-years of decorated military service in the United States Air Force to the role of Chief Operating Officer at Thermal Scientific. With a laser focus on team building and process improvement, Major Linde draws from his military career to integrate the company’s vision, mission and core values across the organization.
A native of Odessa, Texas, Clifton Linde grew up alongside Chad and Coby Wishert, forging a lifelong bond of friendship. This bond combined with his impressive military career now pays big dividends for Thermal Scientific.
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Enlisting in 1997 as a Munitions Maintenance Technician, Major Linde’s Air Force career spanned over two decades. Early in his service, he earned his Associates degree through the Community College of the Air Force, and was accepted into the Airman Scholarship Commissioning Program at Texas Tech. Upon finishing his bachelor's degree he was commissioned into the United States Air Force and selected to serve as a Communications Officer.
Major Linde and his family have traveled all over the world and have called nine different military installations home. His favorite assignment was always “the one he just left”. Clifton’s leadership skills were utilized in multiple facets. As a young officer he was selected to grow future officers and assigned to the AFROTC Detachment 845, Texas Christian University, as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies. He was also 1 of 6 Communications Officers selected to attend the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School, where he trained on all aspects of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force to serve in an expeditionary environment while sharing an Air Force perspective. Later on in his career, Major Linde was selected as the Director of Operations, 51st Combat Comm Squadron, 5th Combat Comm Group where he was called on to build and lead specialized teams in support of multiple joint operations.
During his 23 years of service to our country, Major Linde deployed nine times into numerous combat zones, spanning over major military operations, such as ALLIED FORCE, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE.
Major Linde’s transition to civilian life was made a little easier as his military career culminated by leading our military and civilian forces as the Communications Branch Chief, Plans and Programs, Air Force Reserve Command.
Clifton Linde joined Thermal Scientific as Director of Operations in 2019, ascending to his current role, COO in early 2022.
When he’s not improving operations at Thermal Scientific, Major Linde enjoys spending time outdoors golfing, hunting, fishing and spending time with family and friends.
