The fact that Christopher Lintz was surprised by his 2018 Difference Maker nomination is testament to the Roseville native's humility.
“I never viewed myself as a Difference Maker or even inspirational,” Lintz said. “The way I viewed my daily routine was mundane. I was just doing what I needed to do to reach my goals.”
Lintz’s day-to-day—and personal story—however, are hardly run of the mill. Eighteen hour days, he said, aren’t uncommon—crammed with a schedule that mixes a pursuit of a mechanical engineering degree, sleep (when possible) and multiple layers of service within the military community.
At UM-Dearborn, the veteran of two deployments participates with the Student Veteran Association, which assists veterans on and off campus; serves as leader and trainer for 12 cadets in the ROTC program; and works with the Office of Veterans Affairs to help military-affiliated students use their education benefits.
And outside of all that, he still finds time to serve in the Air National Guard, where he oversees a team of 30 military personnel and civilian contractors.
“Chris is a true Difference Maker. He aspires to take the values he has gained as a college student and military service member to the entire world,” said Veteran Affairs Coordinator Tom Pitock.“I witness daily the dedication and commitment Chris exhibits.”
Still, Lintz doesn’t consider himself the most natural leader, and credits life experience and “lots of trial and error” with helping him develop leadership skills and a style that works for him. After graduation, he plans to take everything he’s learned to the next level and pursue his dream of being an officer in the Air Force.
“After I enlisted, I quickly realized this is where I belong,” he said. “However, I always wanted to do something in the engineering field and earn a degree. It has been a long road to get to where I am today. But here I am one year away from realizing a seven-year plan. And every week that I finish at UM-Dearborn, I view as a moment that defines me.”