Jeannie leavitt callsign
Jeannie Leavitt
US Air Force general and first female fighter pilot in USAF
Jeannie Marie Leavitt (née Flynn; born c. ) is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) general officer.
She became the U.S. Air Force's first female fighter pilot in , and was the first woman to command a USAF combat fighter wing.[2] In April , she was appointed to replace Major General John T. Rauch as Chief of Safety of the United States Air Force, and assumed office on August 13, [3]
Early life
Leavitt was born in St.
Louis, Missouri, to James, who was enlisted in the Air Force, and Pat Flynn.[4] She attended Bishop DuBourg High School, a private Roman Catholic school in St. Louis. After graduating in and before joining the Air Force, she earned a BS degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a MS degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University in California.[5]
Career
Leavitt began her Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas in She was being trained as a T instructor pilot at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio when restrictions on women flying combat missions were dropped in April Thereafter she began formal combat training in the McDonnell Douglas FE Strike Eagle, becoming the service's first female fighter pilot.[4][6]
Leavitt's F flight hours have included combat hours, mostly over Afghanistan and Iraq.
On one mission, during Operation Southern Watch in , she supported a Royal Air ForceTornado GR1 under threat from an Iraqi Roland surface-to-air missile.[7]
From to , Leavitt earned three master's degrees; a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University in Alabama (), a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base (), and a Master of National Security Strategy from the National War College ().[8]
Leavitt's first command was the d Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.
She was appointed Commander of the 4th Fighter Wing, at the same base in June [8]
In June , Leavitt relinquished command of the 4th Fighter Wing to become principal military assistant to the Secretary of Defense in Washington, D.C.[9]
In , Leavitt became the first woman to take control of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, and was promoted to brigadier general.[10][11]
In June , Leavitt relinquished command of the 57th Wing to become commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio, in Texas.[12]
Leavitt assumed the post of Air Force Chief of Safety on August 13, [3] She retired from the Air Force on September 23, [13]
Leavitt is currently a member of the Engineering Advisory Board at the Cockrell School of Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, and a principal at Pallas Advisors.[14] She also serves as a Distinguished National Security Fellow at the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas.
Brig. gen. jeannie leavitt 57th wing commander woman Leavitt is responsible for 34 squadrons at 13 installations constituting the Air Force's most diverse flying wing. With over 3, flying hours she has broken more than the sound barrier, graduating from and becoming an instructor at the U. Air Force records. For Brig. Jeannie Leavitt, 57th Wing commander, every accomplishment of her year career flying the FE Strike Eagle stems from seizing her opportunities, by seeing them as challenges and overcoming them every step of the way.[15]
Personal
Leavitt is married to retired USAF Colonel Craig Leavitt, and they have two children.[16]
Assignments
- January – March , student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas.
- March – July , T instructor pilot upgrade trainee, Randolph AFB, Texas, later Vance AFB, Oklahoma.
- July – April , student, FE Formal Training Course, th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona.
- April – January , instructor pilot, training officer, later Assistant Chief of Weapons, then Assistant Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.
- January – July , student, USAF Weapons Instructor Course, FE Division, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
- July – June , FE instructor pilot, Assistant Chief then Chief of Weapons and Tactics, later Flight Commander then Assistant Operations Officer, st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
- June – August , FE instructor pilot, Wing Standardization and Evaluation Examiner, 57th Operations Group, later Academics Flight Commander then Assistant Operations Officer for Academics, 17th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
- August – July , student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
- July – September , Chief of Special Technical Operations, United States Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, South Korea.
- September – April , Chief of Master Air Attack Plans, th Combat Plans Squadron, Ninth Air Force and United States Central Command Air Forces, Shaw AFB, South Carolina.
- April – July , Assistant Director of Operations, th Fighter Squadron, later Commander, d Fighter Squadron, then Special Assistant to the 4th Operations Group Commander, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.
- July – June , student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
- July – May , CSAF Fellow, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
- June – June , Commander, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.
- June – April , Principal Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
- April – June , Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
- June – June , Commander, Air Force Recruiting Service, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.
- June – August , Director of Operations and Communications, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.
- August – September , Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety, Headquarters U.S.
Air Force, Arlington, Va., and Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- September , Retired from the Air Force
Flight information
- Rating: Command Pilot
- Flight hours: More than 3,, including over combat hours
- Aircraft flown: McDonnell Douglas FE Strike Eagle, Northrop T Talon, Cessna T Tweet
Awards and decorations
Jeannie Leavitt's major decorations as of June
Other achievements
- Outstanding Young Texas Exes, University of Texas at Austin
- Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Award, National Aeronautic Association
- Omar N.
Bradley Spirit of Independence Award
- International Aviation Women’s Association, Wings Outstanding Aviator Award
- Harvard Business School, Executive Fellow in Executive Education
- The University of Texas at Austin, Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Distinguished Alumni
Promotion dates
References
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Air Force.
- ^"Leavitt and Doherty Family Members Escorted Prior to Change of Command Ceremony".
Seymour Johnson AFB Library Digital Collections. June 1, Retrieved January 11,
- ^"First female fighter pilot becomes first female wing commander". Fox News. May 31, Retrieved January 11,
- ^ ab"Leavitt takes reins of safety during change of command".
U.S.
Brig. gen. jeannie leavitt 57th wing commander general: In , Leavitt became the first woman to take control of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, and was promoted to brigadier general. [10][11] In June , Leavitt relinquished command of the 57th Wing to become commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio, in Texas. [12].
Air Force. Air Force Safety Center Public Affairs.
- ^ ab"On The Front Lines When Second Lt. Jeannie Marie Flynn Began Training Yesterday To Be The First U.s. Female Fighter Pilot, She Was Breaking Through Barriers". Philadelphia Inquirer.
May 20, Archived from the original on January 11, Retrieved January 10,
- ^"The Cavalier: The Magazine for Bishop DuBourg High School"(PDF). Bishop DuBourg High School.Brig. gen. jeannie leavitt 57th wing commander killed She became the U. Air Force's first female fighter pilot in , and was the first woman to command a USAF combat fighter wing. Leavitt was born in St. She was being trained as a T instructor pilot at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio when restrictions on women flying combat missions were dropped in April Thereafter she began formal combat training in the McDonnell Douglas FE Strike Eagle , becoming the service's first female fighter pilot.
Winter Archived from the original(PDF) on January 12, Retrieved January 10,
- ^Bravo, Al (February 26, ). "First female combat pilot completes training". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington).Brig. gen. jeannie leavitt 57th wing commander Major General ret Jeannie M. She graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training in January of and became the first female fighter pilot for the United States Air Force in April of when the Department of Defense changed the combat exclusion policy. General Leavitt has served in a variety of flying, staff, and command assignments. As Commander, Air Force Safety Center—and Chief of Safety for the Air Force and Space Force—she developed, directed, and evaluated all aviation, ground, weapons, space and system mishap prevention and nuclear surety programs. As Director of Operations and Communications, Air Education and Training Command, she was responsible for providing initial skills, undergraduate flying, post graduate combat crew and supplemental training for more than , Air Force, Space Force, joint, and international personnel at 65 Air Force and Department of Defense locations.
Associated Press. p.7B.
- ^"AF first female fighter pilot continues to break stereotypes". Air Force News Service. January 3, Archived from the original on January 11, Retrieved January 11,
- ^ ab"Biographies > Major General Jeannie M.
Leavitt". . Retrieved October 9,
- ^"Change of command at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base".
- Brig. gen. jeannie leavitt 57th wing commander general
- Brig. gen. jeannie leavitt 57th wing commander in military
- Brig. gen. jeannie leavitt 57th wing commander in ww2
WCTIcom. June 2, Archived from the original on June 6, Retrieved June 7,
- ^"Nellis Air Force Base welcomes 57th Wing's first woman commander". Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 15, Retrieved April 16,
- ^Holleman, Joe (20 April ). "STLer who became Air Force's first female fighter pilot promoted to brigadier general".
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Brig. gen. jeannie leavitt 57th wing commander pictures
Her passion for helping people reach their full potential fuels her to empower individuals and organizations across fields, from personal resilience to business leadership. Jeannie Leavitt shares real-world leadership insights forged in combat skies. Watch as your team breaks through mental roadblocks to unlock their true potential: invite Jeannie to ignite their next mission. Jeannie is a dynamic speaker and a passionate advocate for ensuring everyone can live their fullest life and achieve their ambitions. Her story and presence had the audience alternately laughing and gasping as she led them on her journey in the armed forces.Retrieved
- ^Akers, Mick (). "Trailblazing officer says goodbye to Nellis Air Force Base – Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". . Retrieved
- ^[bare URL]
- ^"Jeannie Leavitt".
- ^"Jeannie Leavitt".
- ^Rogers, Keith (April 16, ).
"Nellis Air Force Base welcomes 57th Wing's first woman commander". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on 4 September Retrieved 30 December