Military Child of the Year Ian Lindo Hopes to Engineer Stronger Communities
Ian Lindo, Operation Homefront’s 2025 Military Child of the Year® for the Coast Guard, has achieved academic success that will help propel him to his goal of becoming a civil engineer, all while mentoring other students.
Ian, 17, is a senior at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he is currently class valedictorian, the first Black male student to hold the position in a decade. He will graduate with an associate degree from Tidewater Community College a month before his high school graduation.
Ian is the son of retired Lt. Michael Lindo and Michelle Effatt. Michael served for 27 years active duty in the Coast Guard, deploying for a total of 10 years conducting counter drug and migrant interdictions in the Caribbean, before retiring in 2019. His father lives in Georgia while Ian and his mom live in Virginia.
“My father’s dedication and commitment to serving our country for so many years is something I deeply admire,” Ian said. “His loyalty and sacrifice for our nation have shaped who I am, and knowing he served with such honor makes me feel proud every day. It’s not just about the uniform; it’s about the values he instilled in me—discipline, resilience, and a strong sense of duty.”
That sense of duty is what inspired Ian to be a mentor and volunteer. Since becoming president of his school’s Key Club and revamping volunteer programs, Ian has logged more than 500 hours of volunteering in elementary school classrooms in the past two years.
He is also president of Golden Fold Suffolk, a community-based youth mentorship group and service organization, a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, and co-captain of his school’s Scholastic Bowl team, which has made it to the regional championship all four years.
Ian is currently deciding among several universities, including Virginia Tech and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, to major in civil engineering.
“I’m really passionate about designing systems that can improve lives, especially in underserved areas,” Ian said. “I’ve always believed that infrastructure like roads and bridges plays such a crucial role in connecting people, improving safety, and supporting everyday life.”
Ian hopes that by becoming a civil engineer, he can create solutions that will strengthen communities.
“Ultimately, I want to design projects that will benefit future generations and have a lasting positive impact.”
Friends, family, and mentors have all inspired him on his journey. He credits not one individual, but many individual characteristics of those he is close to or has met for showing him how to make an impact. He also credits his faith.
“I know I’ve been designed with a purpose to make this world a better place, and that gives me the motivation to keep growing and working toward that goal every day,” he said.
What he has learned along the way is not to be afraid to tell people who are close how much they mean. It is his best advice for other military kids.
“Remember that any tough times you experience with your parent’s separation are temporary,” he said. “It might feel hard, but it teaches you to love them even more and to cherish the time you have. Stay strong and always know that you are not alone in this journey.”
Operation Homefront’s Military Child of the Year program, now in its 17th year, recognizes outstanding teens in each branch of the armed forces for criteria that include their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership and extracurricular involvement while facing the challenges of military family life.
Collectively, the seven 2025 recipients logged 3,488 volunteer hours in the 12 months before nominations. Altogether, they have experienced 34 permanent changes of station and lived through 283 months of deployments.
The Military Child of the Year Award recipients will be recognized at a gala in Washington, D.C., in April, during which senior leaders of each branch of service will present the awards. Award recipients also will receive $10,000 each, a laptop computer, and other donated gifts.
Service/Leadership Highlights
- Named one of Virginia’s nominees for the United States Presidential Scholars Program.
- The first Black male student to be class valedictorian in a decade.
- Honored by the College Board with the National African American Recognition program for outstanding academic achievement.
- President of school chapter’s National Honor Society and Key Club.
- Amassed a total of 500 hours of community service since beginning to volunteer in elementary school classrooms.
