Scott Lingamfelter
Lee Scott Lingamfelter is an American politician, soldier, and writer who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 31st district in Fauquier and Prince William counties from 2002 to 2018. A member of the Republican Party, Lingamfelter ran for re-election in 2017, but lost to Democrat Elizabeth Guzmán. Prior to his election, from 1973 to 2001, Lingamfelter was an officer in the United States Army, reaching the rank of Colonel.
After retiring from politics, Lingamfelter began writing about his military endeavors. In 2020, Lingamfelter published his first book, Desert Redleg: Artillery Warfare in the First Gulf War, describing the experience of the First Gulf War through the eyes of a Field Artillery redleg in the 1st Infantry Division Artillery. He addressed the question of whether the United States "got the job done" in its first sustained Middle Eastern conflict. Lingamfelter authored a second book in 2023 about the U.S. role in UN Middle East peacekeeping.
Education and military career
Lingamfelter was raised in Richmond, Virginia where he attended public and parochial schools. He then attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington Virginia where he earned a B.A. in history in 1973. After graduating from VMI as a Distinguished Military Graduate, he was commissioned in the Regular Army of the United States and began a career as a Field Artilleryman.In 1979, the Army awarded Lingamfelter a scholarship to the University of Virginia where he earned a Master of Arts in Government and Foreign Affairs in 1981. He rose to the rank of Colonel. His last military assignment in the Army was as Military Assistant to the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Armed Forces Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College where he served as class president. He retired after 28 years of active-duty service.
Among Lingamfelter's awards and decorations are the Defense Superior Service Medal; two Legions of Merit; the Bronze Star Medal; two Defense Meritorious Service Medals; four Meritorious Service Medals; three Joint Service Commendation Medals; the Army Commendation Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star; the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze service stars; the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait); and the United Nations Service Medal.
Political career
House of Delegates
Elections
In 2001, Lingamfelter successfully won election to the Virginia House of Delegates as a Republican, defeating Democratic candidate M.D. Krause. Lingamfelter was a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2018, representing the 31st district in Fauquier and Prince William Counties,. Lingamfelter lost his reelection bid on November 7, 2017, following a wave of Democratic victories across Virginia. Most recently, Lingamfelter was a member of Veterans for Youngkin that supported the election of Governor Glenn Youngkin in 2021. He also published two articles in support of Youngkin in the Washington Times.Tenure
Lingamfelter was a former Chair of the Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee. He also served as a Member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Education Committee. Lingamfelter was also the former Chair of the Subcommittee on Public Safety, as well as a Member of the Subcommittee on Compensation and Retirement, the Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Subcommittee on General Government and Capital Outlay.Lingamfelter also served on the Chesapeake Bay Commission and was also the co-chairman of the Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, a bipartisan group of stakeholders that seeks to promote awareness of issues facing Virginia's outdoorsmen and sportsmen.
Awards
In 2000, Lingamfelter was named the Virginia Family Foundation Citizen of the Year. In 2007, he was named the Chesapeake Bay Legislator of the Year. In 2013, the National Rifle Association of America's Civil Rights Defense Fund voted to award Lingamfelter with the Carter-Knight Award for his successful efforts to repeal Virginia's gun rationing law.
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
In June 2012 Lingamfelter announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 2013. After losing in the convention, Lingamfelter threw his support behind Pete Snyder.
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