Linh Thai is a naturalized citizen and a former refugee from Vietnam. Linh enlisted in the Army after high school and served for ten years with honors. He initially branched in the infantry and served with the 82nd Airborne Division. Qualifying for the Green to Gold, Linh went back to college and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in political science, Linh continued to serve with distinction as an intel officer in the Army with the last rank of captain.
Upon leaving the service and making Seattle home in 1997, Linh actively engaged in the community through grass-roots social justice, education equity, and community-building issues by continuing service in the public sector at the city, county, and state governments. After earning a master’s in organizational leadership development (OD) his service continued as a Congressional staffer in the 9th Congressional District, where he covered the Veterans and Military Affairs among many key federal issues. In that capacity Linh was instrumental in helping passed the Alexander Lofgran Veterans and Parks Act authorizing lifetime access to national parks to all military, Gold Star families, and veterans.
Linh has been active in serving and advocating for Veterans and military-connected communities locally and nationally with fantastic organizations such as The Mission Continues, Travis Manion Foundation, Team Red White and Blue, Wound Warrior Projects, Team Rubicon, National Parks Conservation Association (PNW Region), and the American Legion (Post 206). Linh was nominated and appointed to serve on Washington State Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee. Most recently, he helped advocate successfully the naming of William Stacey Baseball Fields at Maple Leaf Park (North Seattle).
Linh serves our UW Bothell campus in the roll of the first Program Manager for Veterans and Military Programs. In this roll he oversees the day-to-day operations of the Veterans and Military Community Center and supervises a team of VA Work Study Students dedicated to support other VA connected students on campus.