fbq('init', '461723204026319'); 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. Meanwhile, the part of this job that I really love is inspiring others. (where the plane falls from the sky), 4 knife edge tumblers, inside-outside Michelle MACE Curran is an F-16 Mission Commander with over 1800 hours in the aircraft. The plane doesnt fly if just one doesnt do their job., His call sign is Strobe. He wouldnt give the back story of how he came to be called Strobe either, except to say, As a young pilot, I thought I knew what was going on. And she is aware of what seeing a woman in her role can mean. USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace", arrives at Selfridge ANGB in Mt. 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). ", Curran said the shows are meant to inspire people that will "never join the military.". No, she did not. Im not sure if this is reassuring or not. Crunchbase always contains a descriptive blurb about each company, and, Weve detected you are on Internet Explorer. This system allows the plane to achieve feats other stunt planes are unable to In addition to flying the No. She earned a degree in criminal justice in 2009 because she consideredbecominga crime scene investigatorbut also thought it would be cool to become a pilot. Bayport Aerodrome Society,formed In addition to the recommended hydration, pilots must stay in shape. Michelle is a native of Medford, Wisconsin, and has been in the Air Force nearly 10 years. miles mph, at bone-crushing G-forces, with Panzer magnificently following the In the works are online coaching programs for personal development, and in person corporate leadership coaching. USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team. Gotcha - I don't see that info anywhere else, so I'm happy with just the first two hooks. 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. (Being in a spinning cockpit thousands of miles from the ground will do that to you.) She has founded her company, Upside Down Dreams, to inspire others to overcome setbacks and achieve their goals. The airshow As we hop along the New Jersey coastline, experiencing minor Gs, I take in a view of the beach. hometown hero (from Melville), thrills spectators in his Zivko Edge 540 Maj. Curran is broadly referred to as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. Your content is extremely powerful, I am sure that you will be able to support both people and companies to direct their energy in a better way to achieve their goals. Trust and teamwork are obviously essential to the Thunderbirds and any successful team. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. She has additionally served as an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander on the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. Her favorite maneuver is the vertical roll. 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. Do I have to salute? The Air Force turns 72 years old this month. Michelle Curran didn't become interested in flying until college, but she certainly was not afraid of heights growing up in Wisconsin. He performs snap rolls, inverted flat spin Visitgoingplacesfarandnear.com,www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin, andtravelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. She spends so much time flying upside down, that the number 5 on the aircraft is painted upside . "Its definitely changing., Currans not sure yet what shell do when her time with the squadron is over, but common next careers for Thunderbirds include flying F-16s in active duty, taking on a leadership role, or making the shift into commercial airlines. She demonstrates the capabilities of the F-16 during performances. See photo galleries of Jones Beach Air Shows from 2019 and 2018: By Karen Rubin, Travel barrier, where the pilot experiences bone-crushing Gs. There is a charge of adrenalin, but once I take off, it is just focus. In a Facebook post from Wednesday afternoon, October 27, 2021, USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace", announced she is, "about to make a big career pivot and will be leaving the Active Duty. I'm just getting started! In her much less seen however equally essential function with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran served as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation for the group, a management function which is able to positively affect the trajectory of the group in upcoming seasons. That decision to change my mindset completely changed my trajectory. "But if they go out and they, you know, chase a dream that they didn't think they could do because they saw what we can do, then our mission's achieved," she said. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as an F-15E Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander of the 334th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. Hang out with my husband as much as I can. The 2005 Medford High School graduate attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota,on an ROTC scholarship. flying before he got his license and has accumulated 18,000 flight hours, 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. In this workshop, combat veteran Michelle Curran draws from her experiences as an F-16 fighter pilot and USAF lead solo pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds to walk audiences through interactive exercises to help them identify characteristics of their own inner critic and the reality (or lack thereof) of what it says, as well as provide tools and resources for overcoming the war within. country, mimicking the astonishing stunts of Sean D. Tucker, a living legend Most of us work out five days a week, Curran tells me. the most daring feats: US Air Force Thunderbirds pilot Michelle Curran, Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, before her advancement to Thunderbird #5, lead solo in the 2020/21 airshow season. day, the Coast Guard, with fewer members than can fit in Yankee Stadium, save Curran holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of St. Thomas and is a 2010 graduate of the Air and Space Basic Course, Squadron Officer College. It means shes front and center in one of the most visible squadrons in the military. We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. Sign in Michelle "MACE" Curran Professional Speaker, Thunderbird Pilot '19-'21, Combat Veteran, Fighter Pilot, Author, Outdoor Enthusiast I help teams get unstuck by empowering them to face. Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the launch of the Neighborhood Sign Redesign program in partnership with the Office of Arts & Culture, the Department of Property Management, and the Department of Innovation and Technology. Select this result to view Michelle Fami Curran's phone number, address, and more. The $10 event passes to the show can be returned in exchange for two free passes to visit any state park. 1 jet, and leading all air demonstrations, he commands the 130-person squadron. old pilot who served in World War II, who flew with his grandson. Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, Long Island, were the number of women doing was particularly exciting with the infusion of new energy. Go fly girls! Its like no other organization I have ever been a part of, said Curran, who has been in the Air Force for 12 years. Eventually she was selected. Be sure to look for her at an. Against the odds, I had done it. 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. 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. Curran is the fifth woman to fly with the Thunderbirds, her callsign (or nickname) is "MACE". 2019 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. My favorite moment was when this little girlshe was probably six or sevencame up to the autograph line after a show and said, Im going to take your job. I was like, 'Yes! I know what I need to do. He says that among his favorite things are riding roller coasters (he was looking forward to getting a ride on the Cyclone at Coney Island). In a Facebook post from Wednesday afternoon, October 27, 2021, USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, call sign Mace, announced she is, about to make a big career pivot and will be leaving the Active Duty Air Force in the new year. The move to my next base acted as a catalyst for change. The F-16, he says, is basically an engine with wings it can fly at supersonic speed (though the FAA no longer allows it at air shows). Today there's only one female Thunderbird pilot: Major Michelle Curran, a 32-year-old Wisconsin native who flies the coveted Opposing Solo position. After nearly a decade of active service, including deployments to Afghanistan and Japan, Curran applied to the Thunderbirds. Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, earlier than her development to Thunderbird #5, lead solo within the 2020/21 airshow season. speeds of up to 220 mph that keep his peers and his fans in awe. A native of Orlando, Florida, he reflects that he first saw the Thunderbirds when he was just four or five years old, and was so awed, he wanted to fly. Four years into that time she became the first female pilot to fly for the 457th Fighter Squadron. 6 [the opposing solo] gives the challenge and the response, but I can hear his energy. Its been a while! she says. 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. The amount I needed to learn was so overwhelming that I avoided it by procrastinating. The solos race at each other at combined speed of 1000 mph. I didnt realize I was nervous about the day ahead, though, until I was halfway to the 177th Fighter Wing of the Atlantic City Air National Guard Base. Among the 12 pilots, there will be only one woman, Major Michelle Curran, helping her fellow Thunderbirds make the occasion special. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. Early life [ edit] When Curran isnt speaking, she volunteers as part of the Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group, spends time with her stepson and husband rock climbing, and pursues her mountaineering goals. So that was cool.. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. Flying under the callsign "MACE," she was the second woman ever to fly in the lead solo position for . Michelle "MACE" Curran Expand search. traditionally kicks off with a ceremonial parachute drop by a representative of Thank you for the inspiring honest humility of being new at accomplishing a very big dream, and putting a name to what some very real struggles are, in order to succeed and overcome. Curran has been featured on several leading media publications and programs, including The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS Evening News, and Glamour. I got to watch the USAF Thunderbirds arrive at MacArthur Airport ahead of their headlining appearance at the Bethpage Air Show over Memorial Day Weekend at Jones Beach State Park, and then got to speak with the pilots. David During the latter part of her role on the team, many airshows were cancelled due to the global pandemic. It's hard because Curran's job is to wow crowds with awe-inspiring aerobatics and high speed passes. US Coast Guard demonstrated a rescue by helicopter into churning seas on a typical Before that, the WAFWomen in the Air Forceformed in 1948, but WAFs werent permitted to fly and instead performed ground duties. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Did_you_know_nominations/Michelle_Curran&oldid=991790654, The first two are great. He Upside Down Dreams was born. Most thrilling at this years Memorial Day weekend I had the wrong hook - How about ALT0c: . The demonstration squadron boasts some of the worlds most elite fliers, and those skilled enough to make it serve a two-year assignment. Please enter valid email address to continue. There wasnt a female pilot at the time, but a woman was narrating the air show from the ground and Curran was in awe. Pilots train from March to November, often away from the teams home base in Las Vegas. Lieutenant Colonel Eric Gorney, call sign "Miami," is in charge of flying civilians. As far as branches of the military go, the Air Force has historically had the most female recruits. These are not breathable, she adds, tugging at her flight jumpsuit. I actually helped buckle Brie Larson into this very seat, one replies. 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. everything happens for a reason - it makes you better,stronger and more resilient. / CBS News, This story originally aired on November 13, 2019, on the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell.". John Klatt Airshows 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". I'm happy to admit struggles and failures if it gives others perspective on what they are going through. Then, with a vertical climb, Im in the air. This was the 16th Previously, many opportunities had come up that I was drawn to but had stopped myself from pursuing because of the risk of failure that came with them. Send comments or questions to[emailprotected]. Curran additionally supplied distinctive and candid transparency about her profession and private life, successfully leveraging social media to convey airshow followers and aviation fans contained in the world of a fighter pilot. Michelle "MACE" Curran is an F-16 Mission Commander with over 1800 hours in the aircraft. This week, I want to give you a bit of perspective on why I chose to stop flying F-16s and become an entrepreneur. I also realized I was in a unique position to use my own story and what I had learned to empower others. ), First Woman Thunderbird Pilot, Combat Veteran, & Fighter Squadron Commander, Army Ranger School Graduate, Leadership and Peak Performance Expert, Curran has been featured on several leading media publications and programs, including. love this - an excellent and inspirational example of a path for those who are coming to the end of flying / military service and are young enough and open enough to start a new exciting life . They also plan, along with a lot of family, to see her when the Thunderbirds fly at the Milwaukee Air &Water Show July 27-28 and an air show in Mankato, Minnesota, in June. Mace, you are certainly an inspiration. Police answered a call in the early morning of July 20, 1971, after Curran's roommate found her in their shared bedroom. Though theyve only been allowed to fly fighter jets since 1993, women have been enlisting in the USAF proper since 1976. All rights reserved. Its all very professional in the air with the comm. Her favorite maneuver is. parachute, and sailing down at 60 mph to the target. Demerly studied journalism at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. I only wish I looked that good 'At Attention.' I confess that I have admired Michelle Curran, only the fifth woman (since 2005) to pilot one of the formidable F-16 jets, since I first saw her in the 2019 Bethpage Air Show, when she was the #6 (opposing solo) pilot. by Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate,goingplacesfarandnear.com. MACE flew as Thunderbird #6, the Opposing Solo, for the 2019 season and as #5, the Lead Solo, for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. While I don't doubt she's right, a third-party fact checker is preferable.-Esprit15d . I'm the first female to fly in that. octogan loop. In 2021, she was named the Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the University of St. Thomas. Mace shares her struggles with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and finding her identity in a high-performance, type-A culture. He is a 2010 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he double majored in Economics and Management. 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. Their one free day a week is Wednesday, so Curranwho recently married her husband, a U.S. Marine Corps veteransays she keeps her time off simple: Laundry. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. And I am not alone. 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. 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. with Jessy Panzer, the only female civilian air show pilot in the USA. On top of that, I worry she might be intimidating. Michelle Curran (born 1987) is a former United States Air Force (USAF) major and a pilot in the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, or Thunderbirds. 5,000 ft. (they have a spare chute). The show, which would have been the 17th at Jones Beach State Park, brought special excitement because of having been cancelled last year due to COVID-19, and the opportunity for crowds albeit at 50 percent capacity to gather again is a vital sign of the regions return to normalcy. been flying since 14 year old, soloed at 16 year old and started aerobatic Curran and her family enjoy their home city of Las Vegas as a hub to adventure from. Curran has flown more than 1,500 hours in the F-16, including 163 combat hours over Afghanistan in support of operations Resolute Support and Freedoms Sentinel. In total, Curran logged 1,500 total flight hours with the Air Force, including 163 combat hours in Afghanistan as part of Operations Freedoms Sentinel and Resolute Support. I couldnt be more excited to meet her if she were Beyonce. We have music associated with all our maneuvers and for that one I got to pick the song. "I'm a left-wing solo. Like During the latter part of her role on the team, many airshows were cancelled due to the global pandemic. Holy smokes. Clemens, Michigan when the team staged from the U.S. for an airshow performance in Canada during the global pandemic lockdown. I started to grow an Adventure Mindsetone of curiosity, openness to new things, and a completely fresh perspective on failure. 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. Flying under the callsign MACE, she was the second woman ever to fly in the lead solo position for the Thunderbirds since the teams founding in 1953. . Windmiller, Long Islands He has logged more than 5,800 total flight hours and 1,050 hours in the F-15E, including more than 315 combat hours over Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. Shed just landed from a Thunderbirds show in Sioux Falls and immediately jokes that she needs to fix her hair after sweating too much on the flight over. These reactions only made the problem worse. The headliners, the US Air Force Red Bull Air 22 series on Hulu. Among the thrilling maneuvers by the US Air Force Thunderbirds, is this high-speed opposing attack by solo pilots Michelle Curran and Kyle Oliver, seen during Friday's rehearsal of the 17 th annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island over Memorial Day weekend. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; do. This shift in airshow schedules meant that Maj. Currans social media contributions became even more important for maintaining the relevance of the Thunderbirds for public audiences. The technical aspects and tactics were complicated. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Curran was the lead solo pilot for the Squadron. aviation lawyer who knew all too well the risks, and she because her father She also contributes to "60 Minutes. 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. "Those women that have blazed the trail for me, they're just regular people that were driven and you know, stepped outside their comfort zone," Curran said. Windmiller has She went on to complete the Squadron Officer School in 2014. . I was so excited, I called everyone in my familyand none of them answered their phones, she deadpans. We had the opportunity to speak with Michelle recently as she prepares for the 2019 show season, and here's how it went: In conversations around the U.S. during three air show seasons, Curran told The Aviationist about her role on the team and its opportunity to, showcase the Air Force experience and let people know what is possible. Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. As I mentioned before, people unaccustomed to the feeling often go into g-LOC (g-force induced loss of consciousness) or experience extreme motion sickness. Her story underscores the importance of perseverance and determination, as well as an unwavering belief that success is only one step away. a cannon ball at almost 200 mph, crossing in flight, before releasing the She isthe fifth female pilot and only the second female solo pilot in the 65-year history of the Thunderbirds. However, a livestream of Fridays practice sessions include footage from go-pros from the pilots and a Thunderbirds chase plane that shadowed the F-16s in their thrilling maneuvers is airing on Saturday, 10-3 pm. aerobatic helicopter in the US. Like Curran, he says it is the team of 130 that make the Thunderbirds possible. I was sure everyone else was better than I was and knew more than I did. Bill Curran said his daughter was encouraged to apply for the Thunderbirds by friends in the Air Force. "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!