Page 9 - Women's History Month 2021 - Combined Special Edition of Luke AFB Thunderbolt | Davis-Monthan AFB Desert Lightning News

8 February 26, 2021 9
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Making history: Just 10 women make up elite cadre of B-2 pilots

Lt. Col. (retired) Jennifer Jeffords Maj. (separated) Laura Maher Col. Beth Makros, No. 5, Spirit Number 399

No. 3, Spirit Number 326 No. 4, Spirit Number 340 Beth Makros regularly — and quite intentionally — pilot for multiple aircraft, took her to work with him, Makros
brings her three daughters into her office on base. She’s says, remembering, “I was out on the ramp a lot.”
the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Everyone who pilots the B-2 done this at other bases she’s been stationed at since her By 8 years old, Makros knew she wanted to be a pilot,
Springs. Not long after, she and her dad Stealth Bomber receives a coin with first baby was born, just months before Makros started to though she often heard “that’s not something a girl can do.”
were back in the cockpit together. This an individual number on it. It signifies train as a B-2 pilot at Whiteman AFB. Makros earned her wings in 2001. By 2007, she had
time, Jeffords was the pilot and he was the graduation from a six-month Makros likes to take her girls to the flightline, to become the fifth woman to pilot the B-2.
the passenger. grueling combination of classroom promotion and graduation ceremonies, and even just “Every day you feel different,” Makros says. “Every
“He was so proud,” Jeffords said of her academics, exams, simulators down the hallways where official portraits of the base’s moment of every day, you notice it. It gets more evident
dad, who has since died. “Both my parents and flying. commanders hang. Her picture has been displayed on as you get older and move up.”
were so supportive, always encouraging.” The number on the coin is not the many of those walls. First she tried to ignore it. Then she tried to fit in. Now
Her childhood dream was materializing “Spirit Number,” which tallies anyone The subtle, unspoken message to her daughters: “This she embraces it. It can be lonely, but it is also gratifying
after years of unwavering determination and who has ever been airborne in a B-2, is a normal thing for moms. You can do this, too.” being part of such a small group.
Courtesy photo “keeping my nose to the grindstone.” Jef- such as non-pilot government of- She, too, grew up with this kind of encouragement. Her What would Makros tell her three daughters?
fords faced obstacles, including a year-long ficials, but an even lower digit – one Courtesy photo dad, who was a navigator on C-141s and F-4s and later a test “There should be a lot more of us.”
by them have been pilots — only 10 of says. “I feel honored to be among them delay to enter the academy due to a knee- that affirms that they are the newest
Brye SteeveS whom have been women. and I know there will be many more of replacement surgery, but always remained members of a very small, elite group
The 10th woman to become a B-2 us that follow.” focused on becoming a pilot. of aviators. Courtesy photo
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs After she graduated from the Air Force Today, 14 years after being Lt. Col. Nicola Polidor, No. 6, Spirit Number 507
pilot, Capt. Lauren Kram, graduated Their collective story began 19 years
In the B-2’s 30 year history, there from her training course at Whiteman ago in 2002. Each has a common theme Courtesy photo Academy in 1998 and then pilot training in handed her coin, Laura Maher still her pilot training class, pretty much
carries hers in her wallet. It has a
Texas a short time later, Jeffords first flew
guaranteeing her the aircraft of
have been nearly 700 people airborne Air Force Base, Missouri, Oct. 4, 2019. of strength, perseverance, making a The first pilot Jennifer Jeffords ever the Airborne Warning and Control System, spot next to her class ring from the her choice. Maher wanted the B-2, As a preteen girl, Nicky Polidor had hundreds of her guidance. The fact that she was a female, profes-
in the two-person cockpit of the $2.2 “Nine incredible women have come long-time dream come true — and in- knew was her dad. more commonly called the AWACS, while U.S. Air Force Academy. which was almost always assigned magazine cutouts taped all over the bedroom walls of her sional pilot, especially given her generation, was an
California home. But they weren’t pictures of boybands
unspoken, subtle inspiration that I could do anything
billion stealth bomber. About 500 of before me, blazing this trail,” Kram spiring future generations. He had his private pilot’s license and stationed in Oklahoma. “I always wanted to be a pilot,” to pilots after they were experienced or heartthrobs from popular TV shows. I wanted.”
she often flew as a passenger in a Cessna. In search of an Air Force mission that Maher says, recalling watching her in other airframes. They were airplanes. In 2011, Polidor became the sixth woman to pilot
“Everybody thought it was a joke
Lt. Col. (retired) Jennifer Avery Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin As a child, Jeffords watched him in awe as would allow her “to be up front in the fight,” dad fly F-14s for the Navy. “Always. when they put up a picture of a B-2,” dor remembers. “The fast, elusive, military jets really the B-2.
“All types — small, big, commercial, military,” Poli-
he maneuvered the skies “like a bird up
And I always wanted to fly the B-2.”
Jeffords applied to the B-2.
Being a female pilot occurs to her more now that she’s
In May of 2004, she became the third
Maher was the first woman to be
No. 1, Spirit Number 278 No. 2, Spirit Number 279 there, gliding.” woman to fly the $2.2 billion stealth bomber. assigned the B-2 straight out of the she remembers. “But it was true.” captivated me.” older, Polidor says. When she first began flying, she just
“The idea of exploring and being part
Maher had proven herself as an
tried to fit in. Today, she is treated like any other pilot, but
Soon, she went from a girl dreaming about planes to
of the world above the ground — I knew I Jeffords felt pressure, but because of the Air Force’s year-long undergraduate aviator and, in February of 2005, actually flying them. Her first lessons were in a Cessna Polidor is more aware of workforce dynamics and the role
Jennifer Avery made history on Up until that day, more than 200 pilots would go make that happen.” gravity of the task, not her gender. pilot training school — an incredibly she became the fourth woman to and her instructor was a Finnish woman who was an gender plays when it comes to policies, pay and retention.
Feb. 12, 2002. had flown the stealth bomber since Years later, their roles would reverse. “You’re not actually a female B-2 pilot, rare decision at that time for any pilot the B-2. Alaskan bush pilot by trade. “I am encouraged to think that society is evolving and
She was so excited — and nervous it first took flight in 1989, but all had Jeffords — determined since elementary just a B-2 pilot. I’m just a pilot,” Jeffords says young pilot. Her advice to young would-be “She had a profound influence on me,” Polidor says. one day soon the reaction to me saying, ‘I fly the B-2’
— that when she was collecting her been men. school — first piloted a glider plane at simply. Just like her dad. She had finished near the top of aviators: “You can do it, too.” “I’ll never forget being able to solo a Cessna because of isn’t ‘They let women do that?!’ anymore.” Courtesy photo
parachute, helmet and other gear, Goodwin has pointed to her moth-
she grabbed two right-handed gloves. er’s 20 years in the U.S. Air Force
Avery didn’t realize this until she was Reserve, among many other family Capt. Lauren Kolod
in the cockpit and it was time to taxi. members’ military service, including Lt. Col. Jennie Swiechowicz, No. 7, Spirit Number 537 Capt. Lauren Kram
So, she wore one glove backwards her father and both grandfathers, as
and hoped the instructor pilot sitting her inspiration. Like proud parents do, Jennie to be a pilot since her first flight in a nitely not always easy, Swiechowicz No. 9, Spirit Number 688 No. 10, Spirit Number 711
shoulder-to-shoulder with her didn’t “… Family taught me about service, Swiechowicz’s mom and dad love Cessna as a teen growing up in Vir- continued to pursue the dream she’d
notice. He did. they taught me about sacrifice, and to talk about her. Shoppers at the ginia. She pursued Air Force ROTC had since she was a child growing later, in 2018, Kolod became the ninth Lauren Kram didn’t realize she a cadet everyone asks everyone
But, it in no way hindered Avery’s they also taught me about being part of woman to fly the B-2. was number 10. else — regardless of their gender
flight — which she completed success- something that’s bigger than myself,” grocery store, customers at the in college and after being commis- up in Virginia. First she flew the Air- A lieutenant colonel at the Acad- In fact, it doesn’t really occur to — if they’re going to pursue aviation
fully — becoming the first female pilot Goodwin told the Shreveport Times in bank and acquaintances around the sioned, began pilot training with just borne Warning and Control System emy mentored Kolod and helped her her that she’s unique. after graduation. Upon receiving an
neighborhood all hear about their
two other women among the men.
(AWACS) and then the B-2, where
to fly the B-2 stealth bomber. Courtesy photo 2014. “They’ve been my role models. daughter — the B-2 pilot. “We stuck out like sore thumbs,” she faced an even smaller gender get started on a path to becoming an “I kind of forget about it most of incentive flight there, her answer
“It’s still surprising to hear. Shock- Courtesy photo They’ve been the embodiment of pa- There’s just one problem: “Nobody she remembers. It was hard for her ratio, becoming the seventh female aviator. He was also a B-2 pilot. the time,” Kram says. “I’m never was a resounding “yes.”
ing, actually. I feel shocked that it’s me, Kristin Goodwin is a trailblazer in triotism, and also have taught me what believes them,” Swiechowicz says. to find her place. She wasn’t exactly B-2 pilot in 2012. “All pilots love to talk about flying,” reminded that I’m different.” Kram first flew C-21s, which
because I’m just me.” After graduating and commission- the truest sense of the word. it means to sacrifice for our nation.” Kolod says. “And he loved talking Barely acknowledged by her are used to transport cargo and
Before her flight that day, the B-2’s ing as a second lieutenant in the Air She became the Air Force’s first As a child, Goodwin has said she “I don’t know if they think my one of the guys, but didn’t quite fit in Looking back, she says even if about the B-2.” and those she serves alongside passengers, including patients for
two-person cockpit had to be modified Force, Avery earned her wings and female bomb wing commander in dreamed of flying planes in the Air parents got the name of the airplane with their wives either, Swiechowicz her gender mattered to other people, After graduating from the Academy is that she’s a female pilot. Kram aeromedical evacuation operations.
she didn’t let it matter to her.
says.
wrong, or if it’s because I’m female. I
with privacy curtains around the small was sent to Ellsworth Air Force Base, 2014 when she led the nation’s oldest Force. She graduated from the U.S. want to think it’s the former,” she says “It didn’t deter me. If anything, it “The airplane doesn’t care who’s and pilot training, Kolod flew KC-135s, makes up the 6 percent of the fe- She said her desire “to be at the tip
toilet, which is necessary because the South Dakota, to fly the B-1 Lancer. bomber unit, located at Barksdale Air Air Force Academy in 1993 and went with a laugh. made me want it more.” flying it,” Swiechowicz says. “Flying but let her commanders know from the male aviators in the Air Force and, of the spear” and the B-2’s mission
B-2 is capable of long-duration sorties She was the first female pilot to fly the Force Base, Louisiana. Later, she on to fly the C-130, B-52, B-2 and start that she wanted to go fly the B-2 having graduated from the rigorous of lethal global strike and its nuclear
with its lengthiest ever clocking in at 44 B-1 in combat. served as the commandant of cadets trainer jets, accumulating thousands Courtesy photo Swiechowicz knew she wanted Though lonely at times and defi- is the great equalizer.” stealth bomber. initial qualification training course in capabilities led her to Whiteman Air
consecutive hours. Not long after becoming a B-2 pilot, at the U.S. Air Force Academy — only of hours as a pilot. She also became a Never wavering from the goal, October 2019, is the 10th woman to Force Base last year.
“To be able to fly such a unique she was the first female to pilot the the second woman to do so — and as prominent leader — and an inspiration. she found herself driving onto White- pilot the B-2. It was then that someone men-
aircraft that is the backbone of our stealth bomber in combat, in support a senior military assistant to the Sec- According to the Barksdale AFB Capt. Sarah Kociuba, No. 8, Spirit Number 648 man Air Force Base in rural central There are subtle hints of this tioned to her in passing, “Oh, you’re
nation’s nuclear-deterrence defense of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. retary of the Air Force in Washington, archives, an Airman who worked with Missouri on a dark rainy night. She difference, such as getting fitted for No. 10.”
was a dream come true,” Avery said. “I’m proud of myself,” Avery said, D.C., before that. Goodwin said in 2016, “You have also Courtesy photo would soon find out there was only one female-specific flightsuits, or when it Kram’s reaction: “OK, cool.”
Her fascination with aviation started but at the same time she didn’t want The path she forged began at shown us that it is possible to be a When Sarah Kociuba was 11 years old, her family for the first time as a 6 year old in Cleveland at an other female B-2 pilot there. “I thought, comes time for official travel and her
when she was just a child and her her gender to be a factor in her Whiteman Air Force Base, where mother, spouse and respected pro- traveled from Ohio to Pasadena, California, for the air show and remembers thinking, “I want to do that.” It had never occurred to Lauren ‘What have I done?’” Kolod said with male counterparts are paired up to
Uncle Bill took her into an aircraft simu- achievements. Goodwin was stationed when she fessional. That example is something Rose Bowl college football game. She remembers By the time she was a freshman at the University Kolod that she could be a pilot — even a laugh. “I really hope I’ve made the room together and she bunks alone.
lator at Charleston Air Force Base, “I didn’t want to use it to my ad- flew the B-2. that will stay with me and continue waking up early on that cold New Year’s Day to of Dayton that changed to: “I actually think I can after she joined the U.S. Air Force. right decision.” “But, it’s no big deal,” she says.
South Carolina. It continued during her vantage, ever,” she said. “I didn’t want On the day of her “dollar ride,” Feb. to inspire me to push forward in my attend the traditional pre-game parade. do this.” It was her first year at the U.S. Air The next morning, she saw a B-2 What is more surprising are the
college years at Georgia Institute of that to be a reason that I succeeded. 12, 2002, Goodwin became airborne aspirations as an Airman, mother and Kociuba was among the hundreds of thousands With support and encouragement from her fam- Force Academy, where a recruitment taxi and take off. reactions she gets from strangers
Technology, where she loved hearing I never wanted anyone to think I had just after the B-2 flown by Capt. Jen- spouse — to create balance in a world of spectators in attendance, watching the elabo- ily — “It was never a thing that I was a girl and also brochure filled with pictures of cadets “I got chills,” Kolod remembered. — little girls who catch a glimpse
the sound of F-15 fighter jets buzzing gotten to where I was because of being nifer Avery had also taken off from that is full of pressure and stress. If rate parade floats, massive marching bands and wanted to fly” — Kociuba graduated from college, doing cool-looking things had beck- “I was so excited about my job and of her in uniform at the store, or at
over her apartment. a woman.” the base’s runway in rural Missouri. Col. Goodwin can do it, so can I!” hundreds of horses. But, it was the flyover that commissioned as an officer, completed pilot training oned Kolod from the Pittsburgh area. to be a pilot.” a remote airfield in eastern Europe
captivated her. and began her aviation career as a KC-10 pilot. All Kolod’s new roommate introduced It’s a sentiment she wants other and being told she was the only “lady
“We heard it first — it has a very distinct engine the while she maintained her ambitions to eventually Courtesy photo herself and told Kolod she was there young girls to have. pilot” the awestruck bystanders had
sound — then we saw it. I didn’t know what kind of fly the most unique airplane she’d ever seen. to be a fighter pilot someday. “You need to see someone who ever seen.
Three different Air Force Global Strike Command bombers con- • B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota plane it was,” Kociuba remembers. “My dad told When she arrived at Whiteman Air Force Base to dominated. She knows some of her counterparts see “I thought ‘oh wow,’ ” Kolod remem- looks like you to know you can do it,” Kram’s response to these situ-
ducted a first-of-its-kind trifecta flyover during the National Anthem The B-2 took off for the Super Bowl LV flyover, piloted by Capt. me, ‘That’s the B-2.’” start B-2 pilot training, she quickly realized she was her as “the girl,” but that’s not a bad thing. bers. “I had never seen a female pilot Kolod says. “I never had, but that’s ations: “There’s actually starting to
performance at the 55th Super Bowl, Feb. 7, over Raymond James Sarah “Gucci” Kocuiba, flight lead for the event from Whiteman She knew she would someday fly the stealth unique, too. “I looked around and was like, ‘Where Not long ago, she was piloting the B-2 and met up — ever. There was Amelia Earhart, but changing. When I put that helmet on, I be a lot of us!”
Stadium in Tampa, Florida. AFB, joined up with the other aircraft for the flyover, and returned to bomber. In July of 2017, Kociuba became the eighth are all the girls?’” with a KC-10 to refuel in the air. Over the radio, the I don’t remember every having seen become just another pilot, which is the Prior to going to the U.S. Air
The bomber flyover, featured: base following the event — demonstrating the flexibility of AFGSC’s female B-2 pilot. Though sometimes isolating, Kociuba sees her KC-10 pilot asked, “Sarah? Is that you in the B-2?” another female pilot.” best thing in the world. I so appreciate Force Academy, Kram had never
• B-2 Spirit from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri bombers and their ability to deploy anywhere in the world from the Kociuba grew up watching her dad and two un- gender as evidence for other females that they How did he know? “He heard a female voice on What Kolod did see was an op- these women for paving the way and met a female pilot or even a female
• B-1B Lancer from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota continental United States. cles fly as private pilots. She saw military airplanes too can do things that have been historically male the radio,” she said. “I really felt like I had made it.” portunity. And she took it. A few years making it just a little easier for me.” military member. But, she said, as Courtesy photo