Her call sign is Mace (which she uses in her social media, @mace_curran) and while she doesnt reveal the secret to what is behind the nickname, she says it is a tradition in a fighter squadron to get a call sign they are mission qualified. MACE is a 2009 received her degree from the University of St. Thomas where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Criminal Justice. All tickets for Saturday and Sunday were to be honored. Michelle is one of few women in aviation history to fly with the elite fighter pilot squadron, the Thunderbirds, and is known by her call sign "Mace". plane, it is astonishing to learn that the plane is a Taperwing Waco made Facebook; Initially I credit the breathtaking beauty and the roller-coaster-like thrill of the experience for this, but then I remember another thing the flight surgeon told me: Women tend to have a lower center of gravity, giving them something of a natural advantage against high g-forces. Civilian performers at this years Bethpage Air Show include the world-famous GEICO Skytypers and their flight squadron of six vintage WWII aircraft, the American Airpower Museum Warbirds, Long Islands own David Windmiller, the Bayport Aerodrome Society, the SUNY Farmingdale State College Flying Rams who will fly seven of their 22 college-owned aircraft in a fly-by piloted by their top academic professional pilot performers, and Mike Goulian, North Americas most decorated aerobatic pilot. He is in his third year on the Thunderbirds. Noted. She went for it, even competing for a highly coveted pilot spot while still in college. And I am not alone. During her three years of assignment with the Thunderbirds, she quickly established herself as a highly visible and positive influencer for the Air Force through innovative use of social media. Windmiller, Long Islands So now, Im not only anxious about puking or passing out in front of a badass pilot but also concerned Ill be late to meet this badass pilot. it has been awesome to be part of that, to be in this position, in this time of history. Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team. He entered the Air Force in 2002 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Caldwell graduated from the F-16 Replacement Training Unit at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in 2005. We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. I was so excited, I called everyone in my familyand none of them answered their phones, she deadpans. Mace, thanks for sharing this, and for reminding us that its ok to be vulnerable and human. Just two years earlier, women were granted the honor of flying fighter jets by the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Pilots train from March to November, often away from the teams home base in Las Vegas. day, the Coast Guard, with fewer members than can fit in Yankee Stadium, save The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. Her favorite maneuver is. show also pays homage to aviations heritage. Michelle MACE Curran is an F-16 Mission Commander with over 1800 hours in the aircraft. She has also served as an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. She also contributes to "60 Minutes. From flying an F-16 to her passion for extreme sports, Curran is a thrill seeker. They have also lived in West Blocton, AL and Holden, MA. Its become more accepted, but she is aware of things that women have to navigate that men dont even think about. #SCI is proud to announce Michelle "Mace" Curran will speak at our upcoming convention in Nashville. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. In conversations around the U.S. during three air show seasons, Curran told, about her role on the team and its opportunity to, showcase the Air Force experience and let people know what is possible. He has logged more than 1,300 flight hours, including more than 230 hours of combat experience over Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. These reactions only made the problem worse. Play Video Curran holds a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Criminal Justice from the University of St. Thomas and is a 2010 graduate of the Air and Space Basic Course, Squadron Officer College. Here are photos from the practice performance including: Show headliners the United States Air Force Thunderbirds returning to the Bethpage Air Show for their 8thappearance, performing some new maneuvers; the United States Army Golden Knights Parachute Team performing in their 15thBethpage Air Show; the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, the first aircraft to be designed for close air support of ground forces (and built on Long Island); and the U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demonstration. Curran describes her tenure as lead solo for the Thunderbirds as the pinnacle of her career. Be sure to look for her at an. aerobatic helicopter in the US. And once I got thereI felt completely in over my head. Most thrilling is when the two opposing The perfect example of how to succeed with grace and a role model for anyone with a goal in mind. MACE flew as Thunderbird #6, the Opposing Solo, for the 2019 season and as #5, the Lead Solo, for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. I was told by others again and again how they could never do what I was doing and that I must be so brave. Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, Long Island, were the number of women doing I'm happy to admit struggles and failures if it gives others perspective on what they are going through. During a dialog on the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in 2021, Curran advised TheAviationist.com that, These are long days sometimes, but this is the best job in the world. Tweet @TravelFeatures. Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, before her advancement to Thunderbird #5, lead solo in the 2020/21 airshow season. the same aeronautical techniques as the original Wright Brothers plane in 1903. Police at the time . Its especially important to have strong leg, calf, and thigh musclestheyre what you squeeze while going into a maneuver with a high amount of g-forces in order to keep the blood in your head from pooling into your lower extremities. Trust and teamwork are obviously essential to the Thunderbirds and any successful team. My passion is to inspire individuals and teams to make bold decisions, empower them to face fears, and help them find inner strength to reach their true potential. Im hoping to continue to do that through this platform, public speaking, a childrens booklets just say I have a lot of goals and I hope youll continue to come along for the journey. The GEICO Skytypers, the A-10 Thunderbolt, David Windmiller and Michael Goulian will have cameras on board their planes to provide viewers with an in-cockpit perspective, live, during the show. Michelle "MACE" Curran Public figure Speaker, Author, Thunderbird Pilot 19-21' Lover of mountains, fitness, and adventure! I thought, Thats really cool. Hang out with my husband as much as I can. For the best Barrons.com experience, please update to a modern browser.GoogleFirefox This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as the Assistant Director of Operations of the 555th Fighter Squadron and Director of Operations for the 31st Operations Support Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy. We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. Recently, MACE was called back to St. Thomas to receive their Distinguished Alumna of the Year award. His army expertise consists of being Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia (Cycle C-6-1) and as a Scout Observer in a reconnaissance unit, Company F, 425th INF (RANGER/AIRBORNE), Long Range Surveillance Unit (LRSU). From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. "I was definitely nervous and excited, but there was so much to learn that is specific to the Thunderbirds that those feelings were overshadowed by the focus needed to keep up with the jet," said Curran. There are people at almost every air show that are like, I didnt even realize women could fly in combat aircraft., Its clear this rankles a bit. the US Army Parachute Team, theGolden Knights, delivering the It took me that entire three-year assignment to take ownership for where I was at and decide that only I could change it. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. The unit adopted the name Thunderbirds, influenced in part by the strong Native American culture and folklore from the southwestern United States where Luke Air Force Base is located. She just has one requirement for her life, post-Thunderbirds: I want to keep flying.. The Air Forces official air demonstration team, designated the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, was activated at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in 1953. Curran has been in the Air Force for 11 years, but flying wasnt always her goal. No matter how confident and independent we appear to be, we all face pressure to fit in, be liked, and meet the expectations of others. He majored in Communication Technology and Music and earned his commission in 2010 as a graduate of Ohio State Universitys Reserve Officers Training Corps program. I actually helped buckle Brie Larson into this very seat, one replies. Michelle "MACE" Curran Motivational Speaker, Thunderbird Pilot 19-21', AF Fighter Pilot, Aspiring Author, Outdoor Enthusiast I help teams get unstuck by empowering them Published Jun 3 . Michelle Curran didn't become interested in flying until college, but she certainly was not afraid of heights growing up in Wisconsin. Col. John Caldwell is the Commander/Leader of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron. Despite the pandemic, Maj. Curran and the Thunderbirds effectively leveraged social media to maintain visibility of the team across all media channels. Olympic Champion Swimmer; 10x Olympic Medalist, 15x World Champion, 14x World Record Breaker, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2015-2019), World-Renowned Futurist; Founder & CEO of the Future Today Institute and Professor, Strategic Foresight at New York University Stern School of Business, Former Director, Executive Recruiting at Google and Holistic Leadership Strategist, Request an Invite to Events In Washington, DC, Olympic Champion Katie Ledecky, New LAI Exclusive, Essential Video Content: Pre-Recorded Content, Combat Veteran: USAF Thunderbird Lead Solo, F-16 Fighter Pilot and Founder of Upside Down Dreams, Renowned Leadership Expert and Colonel, USAF (Ret. "Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team." -- What an amazing role model! The whole team then returns for Holy smokes. In her less visible but equally crucial role with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran served as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation for the team, a leadership role which will positively impact the trajectory of the team in upcoming seasons. a cannon ball at almost 200 mph, crossing in flight, before releasing the Workshop: Going to War with Your Inner Critic. Drink a beer. High five!'. solos race at each other at combined speed of 1000 mph. And not to brag, but I dont throw up or pass out. During the latter part of her role on the team, many airshows were cancelled due to the global pandemic. But from the moment I meet Curran on the scorching hot tarmac, she is warm and funny. South China Seas, Pacific, Persian Gulf and wherever the US has forces.The air He reflects that he is just a standard Air force fighter pilot, flying every day, multiple times a day to master maneuvers. Except for the pretty paint and smoke, the maneuvers the Thunderbirds fly are the same for what are used in their combat training. The schedule is grueling. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Like GEICO Skytypers, a team of advanced training aircraft used in World War II, are USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace", arrives at Selfridge ANGB in Mt. "We're just bursting with excitement," said Bill Curran. Like us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures. 1 jet, and leading all air demonstrations, he commands the 130-person squadron. During a conversation at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in 2021, Curran told TheAviationist.com that, These are long days sometimes, but this is the best job in the world. Combat veteran Michelle "MACE" Curran led an impressive career as an F-16 fighter pilot during her 13 years in the United States Air Force. And the back-story Send comments or questions to [emailprotected] Tweet @TravelFeatures. . It's a blast. She flew 160 combat hours in Afghanistan before joining the team. Theres still a long way to go before the Air Force hits total parity, but Curran doesnt see herself as an outlier. Theres 12 officers on a teamif you look at the officers alone as a sample, our team next year will have four women, Curran says. She has inspired thousands through her passion for breaking barriers and setting the example of what can be accomplished through hard work. (Being in a spinning cockpit thousands of miles from the ground will do that to you.) *This is a free press release. These are not breathable, she adds, tugging at her flight jumpsuit. Michelle "MACE" Curran is an F-16 Mission Commander with over 1800 hours in the aircraft. The He is in his first season with the team and hails from Cerritos, Calif. Maj. Michael Brewer is the Slot Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. She flies place #5, lead solo, one of the vital seen positions on the group. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Did_you_know_nominations/Michelle_Curran&oldid=991790654, The first two are great. famous by the barnstormers of the 1920s and 1930s, and is based on a 1929 Waco, Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as an F-16 evaluator pilot, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. 6 jet. In a Facebook put up from Wednesday afternoon, October 27, 2021, USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, name signal Mace, introduced she is, about to make a big career pivot and will be leaving the Active Duty Air Force in the new year. Just in case. No, she did not. Im not sure if this is reassuring or not. My presence here wont end when I hand off the #5 and I have a lot more to share with you!. The helicopter is the only From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally.
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