Q&A: Lieutenant Colonel Matthew J. Lintker (US Space Force), Hoover National Security Affairs Fellow

Members of the 2023–24 class of the Robert and Marion Oster National Security Affairs Fellows Program are participating in an interview series in which they discuss their career experience, how they plan to spend the academic year, and their mentoring of Stanford undergraduate students. They also reflect on leadership lessons they learned in service to the nation.

Today, we speak to Lt. Col. Matthew J. Lintker, a space operations officer in the US Space Force, who has a background in military and intelligence community operations.

Why did you join the US Space Force?

Like many others at the time, my decision to join the military was directly linked to the events of September 11, 2001. From an early age my parents and grandparents instilled in me the values of service, sacrifice, and a commitment to something greater than oneself. I was raised on a small dairy farm in Southern Illinois, and as a sixth-generation farmer, I initially entered college with the intention of returning to the farm as a veterinarian. However, I felt compelled to instead enter a life of service to my country after watching the events unfold on 9/11 and, subsequently, decided to join the military. With no significant family ties to the military, I did not have a strong preference as to which branch of service I should join. Ultimately, I felt the air force was the best fit for me, as I grew up close to an air force base and had been to many air shows with my family. In late September 2001, I walked into the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps office and officially started down my path of military service.

Once in the air force, I was vectored to work in space and missile operations. After an initial assignment as a nuclear missile launch officer in Montana, I was selected to work at the National Reconnaissance Office in 2009. Since then, I have only worked space-related jobs. It became a natural transition for me from the air force to the space force once the space force was established, in 2019.

Will you tell us about your educational background?

I graduated in 2005 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, with a degree in animal science, pre-veterinary medicine. After entering active duty, I continued to pursue advanced education and earned 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.

Will you tell us about your career arc?

My first assignment in the air force was as a nuclear missile launch officer. From there I was afforded an opportunity to transition to space operations and was subsequently selected for a position at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). In this job I was exposed to an entirely new culture and mission, which in turn significantly broadened my perspective on geopolitics and the role of the military and intelligence community with regards to national security. During my NRO assignment, I also deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In retrospect, this assignment and deployment were pivotal to further strengthening my desire to serve my county.

My follow-on assignment to the Third Space Experimentation Squadron then exposed me to the cutting edge of space technology. It was during this time that I developed a newfound passion for space and significantly advanced my understanding of orbital mechanics. Next, I moved into military staff jobs and was selected to work directly for the commander of Air Force Space Command. After that I was fortunate to further my education at Air Command and Staff College, followed by a year at the Department of the Air Force’s preeminent strategy school, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies.

I was then able to directly leverage my education and previous operational experience when I was assigned to the air force’s Checkmate Division. Checkmate has a long history as a strategic think tank for Pentagon staff working on some of the most challenging issues facing the Department of the Air Force. This job was extremely rewarding for me personally because of the impact I had on policy formulation, resulting in significant changes to how the Department of Defense confronted great-power competition.

Finally, just before taking my current assignment at Hoover, I was given the ultimate privilege of commanding an operational squadron. This position further solidified my commitment to others, and I was honored to be given the opportunity to lead.

Will you tell us how you heard about the Hoover National Security Affairs Fellowship and how you hope to make the most out of this academic year?

I first heard about the Hoover Institution in 2018 while doing research for my master’s thesis, when I came across a book published by the Hoover Press, Warriors and Citizens: American Views of Our Military. This book helped shape my research significantly, and in turn, I continued to look for other material produced by Hoover.

When I became eligible for my senior-level education assignment within the space force, I immediately thought of the Hoover Institution and reached out to previous alumni of Hoover’s National Security Affairs Fellowship program. All of them spoke very highly of the fellowship and of their time at the Hoover Institution.

While at the Hoover Institution, I hope to make the most out of the unique opportunities available to me and my family. This is the first time in my career I have been able to consistently take my children to school and fully integrate into the local community. As a family, we also greatly enjoy exploring all the amazing locations and experiences the Bay Area has to offer. Additionally, while here I plan to further my academic interests and dedicate time to advancing my own knowledge base on national security and geopolitics. The Hoover Institution has been a remarkable place to support this endeavor because of the direct access I have to senior policy leaders, academic experts, and local entrepreneurs.

Part of the National Security Affairs Fellowship has been teaching and mentoring Stanford University undergraduate students. Could you tell us about your experience mentoring them?

The mentees have become a huge inspiration for me. Put simply, the mentorship program has been my favorite part of the National Security Affairs Fellowship, because it allows me the opportunity to engage and relate to the next generation of leaders across multiple disciplines. Each mentee brings a unique and valuable perspective to discussions, and I continue to learn so much from them.

What does leadership mean to you?

I believe leadership is personal, not positional. It is important to recognize that all individuals can influence and lead others regardless of position or title, because at its core, leadership is about trust and ensuring people feel safe and able to do their best work. A culture of trust can be impacted by anyone, so those in a position of authority have a responsibility to continuously cultivate and nurture an environment of dignity and respect. When team members feel empowered and valued, they can then grow their own leadership skills and ultimately achieve success.