KC-10 Pilot
Hi! My name is Maureen and I am a Captain in the United States Air Force
stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. For the past two and a half
years, I have served as a KC-10 Pilot in the 32nd Aerial Refueling Squadron.
I’ve been flying since 2004 but aviation has been a big part of my life since I
was a little girl.
I was a lucky girl since my father is a career pilot with over 16,000 hours of
flight time and certifications as a flight instructor, instrument instructor, and
airframe and power plant mechanic. Many of my earliest memories are of time
spent with him at the airport while he worked on his company’s airplane and
prepared for flights. Several years, he flew my family from our home in
Wisconsin to Florida for spring break, giving each of us kids the opportunity
to hop in the seat and fly a bit. He loves to tell me about how I enjoyed
“waging the wings of the airplane” believing “I was waving at the people down
below.” My parents never pushed me towards joining the Air Force or
becoming a pilot but ALWAYS told me I could do anything... quite literally,
that the sky was the limit!!
I decided to pursue my own career in aviation while I was a cadet at the
United States Air Force Academy. Throughout my four years there I had
gotten flights in C-130s, KC-135s, C-9s, KC-10s, T-38s, and the French
Alpha Jet. In addition these incentive rides, I studied the history of the Air
Force (not always voluntarily) and interacted with several pilots as well as
many encouraging and equally ambitious young people. When it came down
to choosing what I wanted to do, I couldn’t think of anything more exciting
or challenging than becoming an Air Force pilot.
I started out in the Introductory Flight Training (IFT) program in Colorado
Springs, CO flying the DA-20 after I graduated in 2004. I earned my private
license in just over 40 hours and learned some flying fundaments. Shortly
thereafter, I continued my training at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas in
January 2005 and completed in February 2006 with approximately 300 hours
and my commercial, multi and single engine instrument ratings, and type
ratings in the MU-500 and BE-400. Moving at the lighting AF pace, I was
settled in New Jersey and beginning training to become a KC-10 pilot by the
middle of March.
Recently, I completed my formal training to become a KC-10 Aircraft
Commander, meaning that I will soon be in charge of my own crew. The KC-
10 crew includes two pilots, one flight engineer, and a boom operator. Our
mission consists of transporting cargo, people, and air refueling. Many of our
flights involve helping other aircraft move around the country and across the
ocean to other Air Force Bases. Our ability to carry any required cargo,
support or maintenance personnel, and both pass and take on fuel allows for
unlimited possibilities in enabling other Air Force aircraft to complete their
missions. Right now my squadron also deploys crews and aircraft in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Personally, I
have completed two deployments accumulating over 510 combat hours and
65 combat sorties.
My favorite parts about being a pilot are the travel, teamwork, and challenge
of flying. I love seeing new places and experiencing new things! I also couldn’
t imagine on flying anything other than a crew airplane. Every crew position is
vital to accomplishing our missions and I love knowing that we are all in it
together. The best part about being a pilot is that you are always learning.
Between studying the systems of the KC-10 to perfecting landings to
learning how to be a good leader and run my own crew–there is always
something I can be improving upon. I love that challenge because it means
no day is ever the same as the last!
Most people don’t believe it when I tell them that I am a pilot. Often times
they think that women can’t be pilots in the Air Force and are very surprised
when they learn of what I do. It’s not always easy to be one of a few women
working with lots of guys but there is really no better job. I love the freedom
I feel when I am flying-watching incredible sunrises and sunsets and the
limitless feeling of seeing endless sky and ocean. It gives you a different
perspective on the world and is well worth all of the challenges and sacrifices
that it took to get here.
What role do skills in math, science, engineering and technology play in
supporting your job? What training did you undergo getting to where you
are?: = For anyone interested in aviation, I suggest studying hard. At the Air
Force Academy, I majored in Foreign Area Studies with a focus on Western
Europe and French. Luckily (for me) math, science, thermodynamics, and
aeronautical and electrical engineering were required courses. I’ve always
enjoyed math but engineering did not come quite as easily for me. Still, all of
these courses helped lay the foundation for understanding how my airplane
flies as well as the systems that keep it running. This knowledge was
important while I was learning to fly and has been helpful several times since
then when dealing with system malfunctions.
What activities do you suggest for young children or young adults to prepare
them for a career like yours? What are your future plans?: = I’d also
recommend checking out a local flying club, and talking to pilots, engineers,
and other aviation professionals to figure out if it’s something that you’d
really like to do. Flying is not for everyone but if it is for you, it’s quite an
adventure. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Hi! My name is Maureen and I am a Captain in the United States Air Force
stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. For the past two and a half
years, I have served as a KC-10 Pilot in the 32nd Aerial Refueling Squadron.
I’ve been flying since 2004 but aviation has been a big part of my life since I
was a little girl.
I was a lucky girl since my father is a career pilot with over 16,000 hours of
flight time and certifications as a flight instructor, instrument instructor, and
airframe and power plant mechanic. Many of my earliest memories are of time
spent with him at the airport while he worked on his company’s airplane and
prepared for flights. Several years, he flew my family from our home in
Wisconsin to Florida for spring break, giving each of us kids the opportunity
to hop in the seat and fly a bit. He loves to tell me about how I enjoyed
“waging the wings of the airplane” believing “I was waving at the people down
below.” My parents never pushed me towards joining the Air Force or
becoming a pilot but ALWAYS told me I could do anything... quite literally,
that the sky was the limit!!
I decided to pursue my own career in aviation while I was a cadet at the
United States Air Force Academy. Throughout my four years there I had
gotten flights in C-130s, KC-135s, C-9s, KC-10s, T-38s, and the French
Alpha Jet. In addition these incentive rides, I studied the history of the Air
Force (not always voluntarily) and interacted with several pilots as well as
many encouraging and equally ambitious young people. When it came down
to choosing what I wanted to do, I couldn’t think of anything more exciting
or challenging than becoming an Air Force pilot.
I started out in the Introductory Flight Training (IFT) program in Colorado
Springs, CO flying the DA-20 after I graduated in 2004. I earned my private
license in just over 40 hours and learned some flying fundaments. Shortly
thereafter, I continued my training at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas in
January 2005 and completed in February 2006 with approximately 300 hours
and my commercial, multi and single engine instrument ratings, and type
ratings in the MU-500 and BE-400. Moving at the lighting AF pace, I was
settled in New Jersey and beginning training to become a KC-10 pilot by the
middle of March.
Recently, I completed my formal training to become a KC-10 Aircraft
Commander, meaning that I will soon be in charge of my own crew. The KC-
10 crew includes two pilots, one flight engineer, and a boom operator. Our
mission consists of transporting cargo, people, and air refueling. Many of our
flights involve helping other aircraft move around the country and across the
ocean to other Air Force Bases. Our ability to carry any required cargo,
support or maintenance personnel, and both pass and take on fuel allows for
unlimited possibilities in enabling other Air Force aircraft to complete their
missions. Right now my squadron also deploys crews and aircraft in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Personally, I
have completed two deployments accumulating over 510 combat hours and
65 combat sorties.
My favorite parts about being a pilot are the travel, teamwork, and challenge
of flying. I love seeing new places and experiencing new things! I also couldn’
t imagine on flying anything other than a crew airplane. Every crew position is
vital to accomplishing our missions and I love knowing that we are all in it
together. The best part about being a pilot is that you are always learning.
Between studying the systems of the KC-10 to perfecting landings to
learning how to be a good leader and run my own crew–there is always
something I can be improving upon. I love that challenge because it means
no day is ever the same as the last!
Most people don’t believe it when I tell them that I am a pilot. Often times
they think that women can’t be pilots in the Air Force and are very surprised
when they learn of what I do. It’s not always easy to be one of a few women
working with lots of guys but there is really no better job. I love the freedom
I feel when I am flying-watching incredible sunrises and sunsets and the
limitless feeling of seeing endless sky and ocean. It gives you a different
perspective on the world and is well worth all of the challenges and sacrifices
that it took to get here.
What role do skills in math, science, engineering and technology play in
supporting your job? What training did you undergo getting to where you
are?: = For anyone interested in aviation, I suggest studying hard. At the Air
Force Academy, I majored in Foreign Area Studies with a focus on Western
Europe and French. Luckily (for me) math, science, thermodynamics, and
aeronautical and electrical engineering were required courses. I’ve always
enjoyed math but engineering did not come quite as easily for me. Still, all of
these courses helped lay the foundation for understanding how my airplane
flies as well as the systems that keep it running. This knowledge was
important while I was learning to fly and has been helpful several times since
then when dealing with system malfunctions.
What activities do you suggest for young children or young adults to prepare
them for a career like yours? What are your future plans?: = I’d also
recommend checking out a local flying club, and talking to pilots, engineers,
and other aviation professionals to figure out if it’s something that you’d
really like to do. Flying is not for everyone but if it is for you, it’s quite an
adventure. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
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| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
TM
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
TM