AFSOC flying squadron gets first female CC

[unhappycamper]

Lt. Col. Brenda Cartier
Has ‘the skill, poise and guts’


AFSOC flying squadron gets first female CC
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 25, 2009 5:30:01 EST

Lt. Col. Brenda Cartier became the first female to command an Air Force Special Operations Command flying squadron Feb. 20 when she took command of the 4th Special Operations Squadron Ghostriders.

Cartier’s ascension comes 16 years after the Air Force first allowed women to fly combat missions and Lt. Col. Patricia Fornes became the first female to command an Air Force combat squadron.

Despite the time lapse, the AC-130U Spooky II fire control officer said AFSOC is “right on time” for having a female command a flying squadron and is pleased “the gender issue is becoming less and less highlighted.”

Cartier said she was one of many female junior officers to cross-train into combat aircraft after the Air Force lifted the ban in 1993 and expects to see more Air Force women taking command positions soon.

“To get to this point it takes a long time,” she said. “AFSOC is careful about developing its leadership and this is a culmination of that.”


Rest of article at: http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/02/airforce_afsoc_femalecommander_022409/%2e



uhc comment: About the only thing worse than an AC-130 attack is an Arc Light attack.