and you tell me what I have to do to get it, then I will do that thing. It was a lot of work, but flying helicopters was worth it. Flying a helicopter is nowhere near as graceful as fly- ing an airplane, but I loved the machinery, the technical challenges, powering through the sky—all of it. Contrary to what some might think, it’s not necessarily the big macho guys who are good at it. Being a great helicopter pilot takes the ability to multitask and act quickly: you have to be able to work the controls while monitoring and responding to radio traffic, maintaining situational awareness, and more. And for a US senator, multitask- ing is everything. While I can’t fly combat missions any- more, it’s an honor to use my current role—serving no longer from the cockpit but in the Senate—to ensure that our armed forces are the strongest they can be.


How has what you learned in flight school, combat, and helicopter flying in general helped you in your career as a US senator? Throughout my military service and to this day, I take the Soldier’s Creed seriously: you don’t leave a fallen com- rade behind. That’s why I work hard every day to find new ways to better support our service members, their families, and all Americans. In the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act


(NDAA), I’m proud that a modified version of my Improving Military Aviation Readiness Act of 2022 was included to authorize the Department of Defense (DOD) to include FAA-certified overhauled parts as part of its supply chain, improving both aircraft readiness, by increasing access to repair parts, and value to the tax- payer, by purchasing overhauled, used parts instead of new ones. Given ongoing supply-chain delays and the increasing


cost of new parts, utilizing used serviceable materials in DOD maintenance operations can contribute to decreased costs and increased readiness. In this NDAA, I also supported funding for modernizing fighter aviation technology for the US Navy and Marine Corps’ F -35 pro- grams. This funding will allow for updates to 24 aircraft, ensuring that war fighters are able to maintain the most advanced platforms needed to meet evolving threats.


What inspired you to pursue a career in politics after your service in the military? After my helicopter was shot down and I woke up in Walter Reed [National Military Medical Center in


MARCH 2023 ROTOR 25


Bethesda, Maryland], I promised myself I’d do whatever it took to honor my buddies who saved my life on that dusty battlefield in Iraq and repay them for their sacrifice. I became an advocate for our nation’s veterans, and I realized that the best thing I could do to continue to serve our country and help make it better was to run for office. Veterans should be in Congress to hold the gov- ernment accountable for the promises we make to our military men and women, who go out and do an incredi- ble job at our behest, and their families.


What advice would you give to those interested in pursuing a flying career, particularly young women, from your perspective as both a former pilot and a professional in a nonaviation career? You can be anything and can do anything, but make sure you give yourself permission to struggle and be frus- trated as you take on new responsibilities. There’s no perfect work–life balance, and you’re not going to be able to do everything you’d like to do. You may try some- thing, and it may not work out. But as long as you keep your head down and work hard, that’s when the victories come. That’s how you can make a difference in people’s lives.


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