Page 7 - Aerotech News and Review, March 5, 2021

Women in Aerospace
Col. Sebrina Pabon, Test Pilot School commandant

Col. Sebrina Pabon is the first female to serve Colonel Pabon: Returning to TPS as an in-
as commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot structor was a very rewarding experience. I had
School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. She is just sat in the same seat as the students only two
also a graduate of Desert High School at Edwards. years prior so I could add some of my recent flight
As part of our observance of Women’s History test experiences to the instruction and also still
Month, Aerotech scheduled a Q&A session with relate to the student’s experience. It was also a
the colonel. privilege to work with the entire TPS Staff and
continue to learn and grow.
Aerotech News: What year did you graduate
from Desert High School? Aerotech News: You are the first non-pilot
Colonel Pabon: 1995 — We moved to Ed- commandant at the TPS. Does that present any
wards the summer before my junior year of high challenges?
school. The opportunities and experiences going Colonel Pabon: Actually, I am the second. The
to high school here were amazing. I was able to first non-rated Commandant was Dr. Ka’iliwai in
see space shuttle landings, watch the B-2 fly dur- 2001 who is also one of my mentors. No major
ing softball practice, hear hundreds sonic booms, challenges presented by that. There are a few
and even intern at NASA during the summer be- things by regulation that I am not allowed to of-
fore my senior year. ficially approve/sign for as a non-rated officer,
but we have an amazing staff at Test Pilot School
Aerotech News: Were you focused on STEM and great support from the OG to minimize the
in high school, or did that come later? What impact.
influences encouraged you to focus on STEM
education? Aerotech News: You sit in a chair occupied by
Colonel Pabon: Yes. I was always interested in Air Force photograph many aerospace legends. Can you talk about that
math and science in school but wasn’t sure what I Col. Sebrina Pabon continuing legacy, and if and how it affects your
wanted to do for work when I grew up. I eventu- leadership of the school?
ally decided that engineering was the way to go Colonel Pabon: It’s a very humbling and re-
since I liked math and science but wasn’t sure opportunity that could compare to the work I was to stay technical throughout my career, the best warding experience.
what type of engineer I wanted to be at first. I did doing and the experiences I had. way to do that was to get go to Test Pilot School
some research after my junior year of high school and become part of the flight test community. Aerotech News: What advice do you have to
and selected electrical engineering. I wasn’t sure Aerotech News: Edwards has played a ma- high school students, both male and female, who
that was the right choice until I was in college and jor role in both your life and your career. What Aerotech News: Can you describe your experi-
taking electrical engineering courses. Although other assignments have you had, and are there ences as a student at TPS? may be considering an Air Force career, espe-
difficult at times, I enjoyed the classes and real- any highlights you’d like to share. Colonel Pabon: TPS was a very challenging, cially in flight test?
ized I had picked the best discipline for me. Colonel Pabon: I have been very lucky with yet very rewarding experience. I often tell people Colonel Pabon: My advice to high school stu-
the assignments in my career. I spent the first that I was not sure exactly what I had signed up dents is to work hard to follow their dreams and
Aerotech News: Where did you go to college, six years of my career at Wright-Patterson AFB, for until I was at the school. I learned so much at goals. It is not always easy to achieve your goals,
what did you major in, and were you enrolled Ohio, as an electrical engineer. I had the amazing TPS, and the best thing about it was that I found but as long as you do the best you can you will
in ROTC? opportunity to do hands-on work using my degree a career path that I really enjoyed and could not be successful. There are so many opportunities
Colonel Pabon: University of Notre Dame on both at NASIC and at AFRL. The supervisors and imagine doing anything more rewarding and ful- available to students to explore and experience
an Air Force ROTC scholarship. Majored in Elec- mentors at those assignments encouraged me to filling as an engineer in the Air Force. possible careers through internships or even vol-
trical Engineering stay technical if that was what I wanted and I ap- unteer opportunities but it takes time and effort
preciated their support to allow me to stay in the Aerotech News: After graduating TPS, you to find them.
Aerotech News: Why did you choose a ca- labs as a developmental engineer. were assigned to the 416th Flight Test Squad- If they are considering flight test, I highly rec-
reer in the Air Force, and what drew you to this I was also lucky to serve a staff tour at IN- ron as chief of flight test safety, and flight com- ommend students pursue an engineering degree as
particular career path? I understand you come DOPACOM in the J8 supporting future capabili- mander. What were you responsibilities in those that will set them up for success and open many
from a military family; did this affect your career ties for the Indo-pacific and working directly for positions? doors for them within the community.
choices? my mentor Dr. George Ka’iliwai. Being able to Colonel Pabon: At the 416th, I had some
Colonel Pabon: I grew up in an Air Force fam- see and understand the challenges we face in the amazing test opportunities testing everything from Aerotech News: How did you get your call
ily, but I actually never planned on a career in the Indo-pacific region and working with the Services avionics upgrades to engine controller upgrades. sign ‘Poco?’
Air Force. In fact my father spent many years as and Department of Defense organizations to find As chief of flight test safety, I assisted with devel- Colonel Pabon: I am Puerto Rican and not
a recruiter and I only learned about ROTC schol- ways to resolve some of those issues was a very oping the safety plans for all of our test programs very tall so my TPS classmates named me Poco
arships toward the end of my junior year of high rewarding experience. and making sure that once approved we followed for ‘un poco’ which translates to ‘a little bit’ in
school from a career fair at Air Force Plant 42. I the agreed upon risk mitigation procedures identi- English.
only planned to pay back the four years I owed Aerotech News: What made you apply to be a fied during our tests.
for the ROTC scholarship for my education. How- student at the Test Pilot School? Aerotech News: Is there anything else you
ever, once I was in the Air Force, I had amazing Colonel Pabon: At Wright-Patterson, I enjoyed Aerotech News: You then returned to TPS as would like to add?
jobs and opportunities and was happy to continue the hands-on engineering work I was conducting an instructor. What was it like being on the other Colonel Pabon: Thank you for the opportunity
my career. I did not see a private sector job or and was informed by my mentors that if I wanted side of the teaching experience? to share some of my experiences.

Jolly Green II lands at Edwards

Crews off-load from two HH-60W “Jolly Green II” combat rescue helicopters at Edwards Air Force Base,
Calif., Feb. 17, 2021. The HH-60Ws arrived from Eglin AFB, Fla., to conduct flight test operations. The
HH-60W, manufactured by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., features advanced and improved
defensive systems, vulnerability reduction, hover performance, electrical capacity, avionics, cooling,
weapons, cyber-security, environmental and net-centric requirements. The Air Force plans to purchase
up to 108 HH-60W helicopters to replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk. The primary mission of the HH-60W
helicopter will be conducting day or night combat search and rescue operations into hostile environments
to recover isolated personnel during war. The HH-60W will also be tasked to perform military operations
other than war, including civil search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster response, humanitarian
assistance, security cooperation/aviation advisory, NASA space flight support, and rescue command
and control. In February 2020, the Air Force named its newest combat rescue helicopter, the HH-60W,
the “Jolly Green II,” following the legendary tradition of the Vietnam-era HH-3E Jolly Green and HH-53
Super Jolly Green crews, who pioneered the combat search and rescue mission.
Air Force photograph by Giancarlo Casem

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