First female active-duty fighter pilot retires

The first female active-duty fighter pilot retired here Oct. 13 after 20 years of Air Force service. 

Lt. Col. Sharon Preszler, 20th Fighter Wing staff director and Commander's Action Group director, said she developed a love for flight when she was four years. She said she wanted to be a flight attendant when she grew up because she wanted to fly. Her mother asked her why she would want to ride when she could be a pilot and fly the plane. After that, Colonel Preszler said she wanted to be a pilot.

She received her commission through the Reserve Officer's Training Corps in 1986. Even though she wanted to be a pilot, Colonel Preszler said she became a navigator, but then she went on to pilot a C-21.

Then, in 1993, when Colonel Preszler said she was given an opportunity that would change her life forever -- the opportunity to become a fighter pilot.

"They asked me 'Do you want to do this?' I said yes and the next day I was at the Pentagon. Although we (the small group of women selected) all wondered how it would be received, no one wanted to be the one to say it. We had the attitude we needed to start this positively. We went into it with the idea that yeah, fighter pilots care how other pilots fly. I'm going to fly and it's not going to be a big deal. It's a performance-based industry. We just want the best qualified people doing the job," Colonel Preszler said.

Gen. Merrill McPeak, now retired, then Air Force Chief of Staff, said during the initial press conference, as of April 28, 1993, the Air Force would begin accepting women as fighter pilots and fighter pilot instructors, based solely on merit and performance. He also said women who were top performers, such as then Captain Preszler, would be targeted to become fighter pilots.

Colonel Preszler said it was rough at first and there were a small few who did not want women to fly fighters. The majority of fighter pilots just cared how she flew.

The first duty station for Colonel Preszler was Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. While there, Colonel Preszler said she deployed and flew sorties over Iraq as part of Operation Northern Watch.

Through her years as an Air Force officer, Colonel Preszler said she has been affected by many people at different times. She said the person that stands out most is her mother because she encouraged her to find a career that she would enjoy.

After retirement, Colonel Preszler said she plans on settling in the Phoenix area with her husband and their son.