Martha McSally

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Martha McSally, class of 1988, was the first woman to serve as commander of a fighter squadron--the 354th Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. She is an A-10 pilot and has flown numerous missions in SWA.

McSally is also known for having filed suit against the Secretary of Defense seek the repeal of a policy that requires American personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia to conform to that nation's ultra-conservative customs regarding women. Specifically, the policy would have required her to be accompanied by a man anytime she left the base; whe wasn't allowed to drive and could ride only in the backseat; and she was required to cover herself in an abaya, a long gown similar to the Afghan burqa. The Air Force ultimately lifted the abaya-wearing requirement.

At the Academy, Cadet McSally challenged authority by demanding to compete on the intramural wrestling team, which was all-male.

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