Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, Oct 19 2018

These Eagles took flight, reaching new heights
by Alisha Semchuck
staff writer
Undaunted by career roles tradition- ally occupied by men, six women hon- ored at the 2018 Gathering of Eagles banquet Oct. 13 successfully pursued their dreams, never considering the possibility of facing gender bias.
When someone asked Sandra Mi- arecki, PhD, a test pilot, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and a physics professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, how she felt about being a woman in a ‘man’s world,’ she said, “I never really thought of it that way. I was the only woman and I looked at it as having 49 big brothers.”
In fact, this year’s Eagle honorees were recognized for their intelligence, stamina, ingenuity and ability to make a difference in the field of aerospace, a difference which improved the lives of everyone. They truly lived up to this year’s event theme, “Breaking Barriers . . . Expanding Horizons.”
Lisa Gray, chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the Flight Test Histori- cal Foundation, welcomed the crowd attending the ceremonial dinner in the H.W. Hunter Pavilion at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.
Gray described it as a celebration of women who worked in flight test, women who “dared to dream, then made a plan and obtained the educa- tion and experience to make that dream come true.”
She introduced the program’s Mas- ter of Ceremonies, Bill “Evil” Gray, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant col- onel and the Chief Test Pilot at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. Gray acknowledged he is also her husband.
Evil, as everyone called him, an- nounced the honorees, beginning with Florence Lowe “Pancho” Barnes, who was recognized posthumously for her contributions.
He called Pancho a pioneer avia- tor who broke Amelia Earhart’s air speed record, raced in the Women’s Air Derby, owned the Happy Bottom Riding Club, worked as a stunt pilot in the movies and was “really important to flight test as one of 20th century’s greatest American characters.” Pan- cho was one of the first female pilots licensed in the United States.
Evil quoted Pancho as saying, “When you have a choice, choose hap- py,” and asked the assembled guests to reflect on that as they enjoyed each oth- er’s company during the dinner hour.
Other honorees included Cynthia “CJ” Bixby, flight test engineer in Chief Systems Engineering and In- tegration at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center; Dr. Eileen A. Bjork- man, flight test engineer, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, Deputy Director of Programs and Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements for the U.S. Air Force; Laurie Grindle, Engineer and Project Manager at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center; Kelly J. Latim- er, test pilot for the Air Force, research test pilot for NASA and pilot for Virgin Galactic; and Miarecki.
George Welsh, curator of the Flight Test Museum and Education Center, told the crowd that the accomplish-
October 19, 2018
Photograph by Liinda KC Reynolds
Honoring Women of Flight Test — Lisa Gray, Chairwoman, Board of Directors Flight Test Historical Foundation, hosts the Gathering of Eagles, while Col. Angela Suplisson served as Master of Ceremonies along with Chief Test Pilot, USAF Test Pilot School, Bill “Evil” Gray. Inducted Eagles are: Sandra Miarecki, Test Pilot, Lt. Col, USAF (Ret) Physics Professor, USAF Academy; Kelly Latimer, USAF, NASA, Virgin Galactic Test Pilot; Laurie Grindle, Engineer and Project Manager, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center; Dr. Eileen Bjorkman Flight Test Engineer, Lt. Col USAF (Ret) Deputy Director of Programs, Chief of Staff
for Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements; Lowe “Pancho” Barnes (Posthumous).
and Cynthia Bixby, Flight test engineer, Chief Systems Engineering and Integration, NASA. And Florence
ments achieved by the newest class of Eagles inspire future generations of en- gineers. He said Star Base, an educa- tion program funded by the Department of Defense based strictly on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is conducted in coopera- tion with the museum.
The event also served as an occa- sion for the awarding of scholarships for local college students majoring in STEM fields. Scholarships were
awarded to Britney Jaworski, a junior at California State University, Long Beach-Antelope V alley Engineering Program; and Sharon Gonzales, also a junior at California State University, Long Beach-Antelope V alley Engi- neering Program. Both matriculated to
Fullerton Memorial Scholarship. Brit- ney, in the 8th grade, set her sights on becoming an engineer in the aviation field and Sharon is determined to be- come a mechanical engineer in flight test.
Col. Angela W. Suplisson, vice com- mander of the Air Force Test Center, moderated a Q & A panel as a highlight of the evening. She asked Bjorkman what inspired her career in flight test.
“I fell into everything. That’s the
story of my life,” Bjorkman said. She went into computer science and worked for a year in commercial industry, be- fore accepting a position at Boeing. “They were short of engineers at that time. I realized, if I was going to be in the Air Force, I better learn to fly.”
Suplisson asked Grindle how she came to NASA.
“I was interested in becoming an astronaut,” Grindle said. “There’s lots and lots of applicants, but only a few selected.” She was told, if she liked airplanes, she should be at NASA. She went from being a researcher to becom- ing chief engineer in seven years.
Latimer said she had a “detailed plan from an early age.” She was in 8th grade, headed to high school and knew she needed a career path. She began researching pilot training at the library and read that she should enroll in a military academy. She informed her parents of her desire to go to the Air Force Academy, fearing they would re- sist. Instead, they supported her. “It all started in the library,” she said.
“I was also a planner, like Kelly,” Miarecki said. “I watched moon land- ings on television” She said she was always interested in the stars and as- tronomy. In high school a guidance counselor suggested that she become an astrophysicist. During her fresh- man year at the University of Illinois, she told her counselor she wanted to become an astronaut. The counselor couldn’t offer any advice, but sug- gested she enroll in ROTC. In 1997, she submitted her first application to NASA.
Asked about her best day in flight test, Bixby said, “My coolest day was
See GOE, Page 4
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the CSULB-A V program lope Valley College.
from Ante-
Jaworski received the William J. “Pete” Knight Memorial Scholarship and Gonzales received the C. Gordon
Art and Roberta Thompson of Sage Cheshire Aerospace pose with Lisa Moulton, Lily Knight and Congressman Steve Knight at the Flight Test Historical Foundation’s honoring Women of Flight Test. Art designed and fabricated the awards using the same CAD and waterjet he uses to support local industries.
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Photograph by Liinda KC Reynolds