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. Vulnerability isnt a weakness, its a super power as a leader! See more, including their schedule of performances, at the US Air Force Thunderbirds site, afthunderbirds.com. The three years on the team was the most fun flying of my career. was particularly exciting with the infusion of new energy. There wasnt a female pilot at the time, but a woman was narrating the air show from the ground and Curran was in awe. American flag to a tiny target on Jones Beach. 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). field including Bi-Planes, Champs, and Cubs. She is a true inspiration to all of those attempting to overcome hardships. Maj. Curran is broadly referred to as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. Since Curran began . ), 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. My question to you is: how do you become your own catalyst for change? 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. I had the wrong hook - How about ALT0c: . Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team. The 2005 Medford High School graduate attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota,on an ROTC scholarship. Theres been a steady uptick of female pilots in general and in the fighter community as well, she says. Curran was the lead solo pilot for the Squadron. Next year, her last with the Thunderbirds, she'll get bumped up to Lead Solo, where she'll be showcasing the maximum capabilities of the planes. #SCI is proud to announce Michelle "Mace" Curran will speak at our upcoming convention in Nashville. And then you have the kiddie gloves! (where the plane falls from the sky), 4 knife edge tumblers, inside-outside Please enter valid email address to continue. that, These are long days sometimes, but this is the best job in the world. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he was an F-22 Instructor Pilot at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. The thing that floors me is that some people still dont realize its an option, she says. I was told by others again and again how they could never do what I was doing and that I must be so brave. He has logged more than 1,700 flight hours, including more than 280 combat hours over Iraq and Syria in support of Operations Inherent Resolve. Learn more in our Cookie Policy. She was applying to scholarship programs when her father suggested looking into the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). 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. I only wish I looked that good 'At Attention.' What happens if you unwittingly commit a faux pas in front of one of the best fliers in the world? 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. As we hop along the New Jersey coastline, experiencing minor Gs, I take in a view of the beach. John Klatt Airshows 2 jet. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? 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! These pilots are at the mercy of a lot of g-forcesthat is, the gravitational force caused by rapid accelerationand its intense on the body. "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. It's so important for others to hear your struggles. 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. the same aeronautical techniques as the original Wright Brothers plane in 1903. The F-18 Super I live in a fifth-floor walkup, I offered. Her skill is all the more apparent since she is flying Eventually she was selected. We know each other a sisterhood.. It makes a spiral in the sky, she tells me. Although Curran isnt flying with meher plane, #6, isnt a two seatershe gave me the excellent advice to braid my hair and tuck it into my suit. | By Destination Brevard | Facebook Log In Forgot Account? 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. 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. People would send photos and such, showing how moved they were to see the flyover. USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team. I do that through keynote speeches and via content creation on LinkedIn. After serving in the Air Force, Michelle Curran is dedicated to continuing her service by helping others realize their dreams as the founder and president of Upside Down Dreams. No. I make a mental note to not take this for granted anymore. Looking for Michele Curran online? Taking that leap can be intimidating, but if you take charge of the things that are in your control like preparation and planning, putting in the work, leveraging your network, and controlling how you react to adversity, you will find you are capable of much more than you realize. I'm the first female to fly in that position, which is, I think, one of the hardest positions to fly," Curran said. After some reflection on that last 13 years, I realized the thing I found the most rewarding was the ability to inspire people that I suddenly had as a Thunderbird. I was scared to raise my hand when I had a question, because I didn't want anyone else to discover how little I knew. Its become more accepted, but she is aware of things that women have to navigate that men dont even think about. US Air Force Major Michelle Curran is aware that she is such an inspiration to women and girls everywhere a role she embraces, along with her mission, as a member of the Thunderbirds demo team to recruit, retain, inspire. It is hard to say which she enjoys more the look on a young girls face when she realizes that Curran was flying those death-defying maneuvers in her F-16 fighter jet, or the thrill of flying those death-defying maneuvers in her F-16 fighter jet, going from 1500 feet altitude straight up to 15,000 feet in a matter of seconds. The meaning behind the stars on Thunderbird jets, Biden awards Medal of Honor to Green Beret for heroism in Vietnam, K9 veteran receives hero's welcome on flight, Black Vietnam veteran's nearly 60-year wait for Medal of Honor is over, Recovering service members lost 70 years in an Alaskan glacier, Navy veteran turns an act of kindness into a mission. I see that look on faces that light bulb moment., She is the fifth woman to fly with the Thunderbirds (the first was in 2005). Curran has been featured on several leading media publications and programs, including The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS Evening News, and Glamour. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. He is the epitome of what the Thunderbirds are about. 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Tom Demerly is a feature writer, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles that are published around the world on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside magazine, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russias government media outlet Sputnik, and many other publications. Force launch out of a plane from 13,000 feet, speeding like Bull Air Force sky diving team had Amy Chmelecki. in 1972 ands composed of aviation professionals, recreational pilots, and it has been awesome to be part of that, to be in this position, in this time of history. and Jack Links Beef Jerky teamed up to create a one-of-a-kind plane, theScreamin During his performance, Ret. Curran has been in the Air Force for 11 years, but flying wasnt always her goal. From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. 4 jet. * This specific fee falls within this range. Speaker fees are subject to change without notice. fbq('track', "PageView"); Tradition Continues: USAF Thunderbirds To Perform Flyover at 2022 DAYTONA 500, U.S. Air Force and Industry Pass L3Harris F-16 EW System in Critical Design Review, Four Ways To Take Control When Things Fall Apart In Business, U.S. Air Force: Fufeng Grand Forks Project Presents Threat to National Security, U.S. Thunderbirds at Gowen Thunder Airshow This YEAR, Operation Homecoming Kickoff Event February 14th @ 1400 > Maxwell Air Force Base > Display. She isthe fifth female pilot and only the second female solo pilot in the 65-year history of the Thunderbirds. the performances repeat year after year, or follow a two-year cycle, this show 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 has accumulated over 1250 flight hours in three aircraft, including the T-6, T-38, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Like 2. Across Boston, neighborhood signs welcome residents and visitors to the diverse communities that make up the City. In addition to flying the No. / CBS News, This story originally aired on November 13, 2019, on the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell.". We were treated to the final appearance of Sean D. Tuckers specially-engineered plane that enables him to do feats never before imagined, the Oracle Challenger 3, will be donated to the Smithsonians National Air & Space Museum in Washington, where it will be part of a new Thomas W. Haas We All Flygallery, opening in 2021. smoke trails of Tucker. Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of theU.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. 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. He is in his third season with the team and hails from LaGrange, Ill. Maj. Kyle Oliver is the Opposing Solo Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. Michelle is related to James Curren and Samantha Robles as well as 3 additional people. It means shes front and center in one of the most visible squadrons in the military. During a conversation at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in 2021, Curran told. Tom Demerly is a characteristic author, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles which are revealed world wide on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside journal, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russias authorities media outlet Sputnik, and lots of different publications. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, 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. 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. At the end of her undergraduate pilot training, she was one of justtwo in her class of 25 chosen for fighter jets. I made a commitment to start saying ''yes" to those from then on. a different plane from the Oracle Challenger 3 biplane. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The flight surgeon who cleared me for my ride asked if I ever went to SoulCycle or ran marathons, two things that would make me better at handling g-forces.