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Lettie Bien

Virginia Ambassador

Name:  Lettie J. Bien

Hometown:  Charlottesville, Virginia

Business Position:  Defense Affairs Program Manager, Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Civilian Education: Florida State University- BS; Webster University - MA; University of Virginia-MPP; University of Miami School of Law- JD

Organizations/Clubs/Philanthropies:  International Women’s Forum, The Orange Bowl Committee; Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce; University of Virginia Rotunda Society; FSU Varsity Club, University of Miami Hurricane Club, Mount Sinai Medical Center Founder’s &

Society Member, Army Reserve Ambassadors Association, Military Officer’s Association of America, Association of US Army, Reserve Officers Association, Association of Former Intelligence Officers, Women’s Army Corps, Civil Affairs Association, 82nd Airborne Division Association, West Point Society of Monticello, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and American Legion Post 1827. Admitted and licensed with the Florida Bar, the U.S. Tax Court, two U.S. Federal District Courts, the U.S. Supreme Court and is an accreditation lawyer with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Civilian Honors:  Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Medal; FSU College of Social Science & Public Policy 2011-2012 Distinguished Alumna; Miami Dade County “Dade Days” Colonel Lettie Bien Freedom Award; Red Cross “Hero” Award, Red Cross Spectrum Ambassador Award, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Volunteer Service to the Military Award; World Trade Center, Miami International Women’s Day Award; American Academy of University Women “SHERO” Award, Miami Today Gold Medal Award, North Miami Senior High School Sports Hall of Fame induction.

Military Retirement Rank and Date, Service and Key Positions:  Retired as Colonel, 01 January 2007. Key positions include Assistant Inspector General, 82nd Airborne Division; Battalion Commander, 431st Civil Affairs Battalion

Name of Spouse and Children:  Spouse: Dr. David E. Schmitt, a medical doctor. Daughter, Maggie, that lives in La Losa, Spain with her husband and two grandsons, Samuel and Nicolas.

Army Reserve Ambassador Lettie Joy Bien is the Program Manager for the Defense Affairs Committee of the regional chamber of commerce. She serves as the interface between the civilian business community and the local DoD military organizations, veterans and the private and academic sectors engaged in defense related activities. A retired Colonel, she served in many positions including Battalion Commander and the Relocation Director of the US Southern Command in its move from the Republic of Panama to the US.