Page 3 - Women's History Month 2021 - Combined Special Edition of Aerotech News and Review Nellis AFB Creech AFB Desert Lightning News

Female CO will command aircraft carrier for first time

The Navy announced Dec. 23, 2020, honored with the privilege to be able
that Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt will to go serve alongside the rest of our
assume command of USS Abraham comrades in combat.”
Lincoln (CVN 72), marking the first She was designated as a Naval
time a female commanding officer will Aviator in 1996 and served with sev-
lead the crew of one of the Navy’s 11 eral helicopter squadrons throughout
nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. her career. She has previously com-
Bauernschmidt will take command manded the “Spartans” of Helicopter
of Lincoln this summer, upon comple- Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70
tion of the nuclear power, aviation, and and amphibious transport dock USS
leadership training required of aircraft San Diego (LPD-22).
carrier COs. Bauernschmidt has accumulated
“I am incredibly honored and more than 3,000 flight hours in naval
humbled to be selected,” said Bauern- helicopters aboard various aircraft car-
schmidt. “I love leading Sailors and I riers throughout her career, according
take that responsibility extremely seri- to her official Navy biography. Her
ously.” missions have taken her from Alaska
Bauernschmidt was also the first for Exercise Northern Edge to South-
woman to serve as the executive officer west Asia for Operation Enduring
aboard an aircraft carrier, a position she Freedom. She completed the Aviation
held from September 2016 to January Nuclear Officer program before taking
2019, also on the Lincoln. up her XO post aboard the USS Abra-
Bauernschmidt is a native of Mil- ham Lincoln.
waukee, Wisc., and graduated from Service is about “contributing to
the United Stated Naval Academy in something greater than yourself,” Bau-
May 1994, the first graduating class in ernschmidt told CBS News.
which women were allowed to serve “For me, it is about supporting
aboard combatant ships and aircraft. and defending the Constitution of the
“That law absolutely changed United States. But it’s also about these Navy photograph by PO1 Benjamin K. Kittleson
my life,” Bauernschmidt told CBS young men and women that I lead U.S. Navy Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt, then commanding officer of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock
News in 2018. “We were the first class every day,” she said. “They’re pretty ship USS San Diego (LPD 22), on the bridge of the ship. Bauernschmidt will soon be commanding the USS Abraham
Lincoln, the first female to command a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.
that graduated knowing and feeling awesome.”
Breaking Barriers: First KC-46 all-female flight

by Senior Airman Nilsa Garcia future Air Force officers was an experience that
McConnell AFB, Kansas we’re all very proud of,” said Capt. Kristi Miner,
22nd Air Refueling Wing executive officer.
A flight crew from McConnell Air Force Base, The panel covered a pilot’s role in the Air
Kansas, tied back their hair, laced up their boots Force, experience as a woman in aviation and the
and made history as the first all-female flight on KC-46 program capabilities. For the six McCon-
the KC-46A Pegasus Jan. 22, 2021. nell pilots that graduated from the Academy, this
A total of 14 female Airmen flew to the United meant an opportunity to give a first-hand perspec-
States Air Force Academy to support an initiative tive to the women sitting in the seats they once
to increase the number of women and minorities filled years ago.
who join rated career fields. “As a USAFA grad, this mission meant not only
“The fact is that the Air Force pilot population getting a chance to ‘go back where it all started’
is male-dominated, and we wanted to send the but also a chance to speak to future pilots and tell
message that this fact did not mean that women them what I wish I had known when I was in their
aren’t capable or have more of a difficult time be-
ing a good pilot,” said Maj. Kaitlin Schafer, 344th shoes,” said Schafer. “Honest mentorship that
Air Refueling Squadron chief of scheduling. builds people up with guided facts and genuine
The team sought to break down cultural and intent is something I live for, and it is something
personal barriers female cadets face when com- I believe we were able to give.”
peting for pilot training slots. The pilots, main- As of October 2020, only about 838 women in
tenance Airmen and a maintenance officer on the Air Force served as pilots, according to the
the flight had the opportunity to speak to cadets Air Force Personnel Center officials — a num-
during a Women in Aviation question and answer ber that these women hope to see increase in the
panel. coming years. Air Force photographs by Senior Airman Nilsa Garcia
“It is incredibly humbling to get to work with “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and The all-female aircrew pose for a photo Jan. 22, 2021, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. This was
such amazing ladies. Getting 14 women on an air- I couldn’t be more grateful to have had the chance the first the KC-46 Pegasus mission that consisted entirely of women.
plane to share our love of flying and aviation with to make it happen,” said Schafer.
Far left: Maj. Victoria
McBride, Head Quarters
Air Mobility Command KC-
46 simulator certification
pilot, Capt. Kristi Miner,
22nd Air Refueling Wing
executive officer, and
Capt. Michelle McMillen,
22nd Operations Group
executive officer, perform
pre-flight checks Jan. 22,
2021, at McConnell Air
Force Base, Kansas. Left:
U.S. Air Force Academy
cadets listen to the Women
in Aviation panel Jan. 22,
2021, at Colorado Springs,
Colo. The panel topics
covered experiences for
female aviators, the role as
a pilot in the Air Force, and
the KC-46 program.
Aerotech News and Review
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