National Guard Maj. Gen. Linda Singh Talks Life, Leadership During Riots

BALTIMORE (WJZ) --Major General Linda Singh is no stranger to challenges.

As leader of the Maryland National Guard, it's her job to stay sharp in the toughest situations -- including during the riots Baltimore saw in April.

One of the most powerful women in Maryland sat down with WJZ's Marcus Washington to reveal what was going through her mind during Baltimore's unrest and how she got where she is today.

In April, there was rioting in the streets of Baltimore---a violent response to the death of Freddie Gray, who died in police custody.

The unrest was so intense, the Maryland National Guard was deployed to restore peace. Leading the charge was Singh, who had been on the job for just over two months.

"It's something that we practice. We have plans and procedures that allow us to really grab that information and say, `Okay, we've got to run the playbook' and that's really what we did," she said. "I wouldn't change anything because I think the team I had in place did a marvelous job."

Singh---one of the most powerful women in Maryland---got national attention for keeping the peace in Baltimore. Now married with two daughters, she's come a long way from the young girl growing up in Frederick County.

"I had a very humble upbringing, but yet a very challenging one. I left home at 16 and lived on my own in Frederick City and I ended up quitting school because I needed to support myself," she said. "I was homeless. I didn't have a place to stay. My clothes kind of stayed in trash bags and I kind of toted them from place to place."

She was also abused as a child.

"Having been sexually molested...that, to me...I think that was what pushed me over the edge. That's what caused the whole situation of me not being able to stay at home," she said. "I tried to really pretend as if nothing was wrong. No one really knew what I was going through at that point in time. Through all those challenges, I stayed very focused and I did the best that I could."

At 17, she joined the National Guard. It changed the course of her life. She earned her Master's degree and rose through the ranks.

"It's pretty cool. I would have never, ever thought I would be here but now that I am, I know that God's given me a mission and I'm not sure about anybody else, but I know what my mission is and I'm going to do it proudly," she said.