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The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC), in partnership\nwith the Oklahoma Air Force Association Central Oklahoma Gerrity Chapter, and\nAAR Corporation host the event and secured Rear Admiral (Ret) Margaret \u201cPeg\u201d\nKlein as their keynote speaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senator Paul Rosino-R (Oklahoma City) District 45, a retired\nNavy Master Chief Petty Officer made the introduction of Klein to the group and\nsuggested her for the event. \u201cI served\nwith Admiral Klein when she commanded Fleet Air Reconnaissance Three (VQ-3) and\nthen as Commander Task Force 124 and Commodore for Strategic Communications\nWing One (SCW-1) at Tinker AFB. When we look at the contributions of women in\nthe aviation and aerospace industries in our state, Admiral Klein exemplifies\nthe Oklahoma standard. She has flown over 4500 flight hours in the EC-130\nHercules and E-6 Mercury. She holds\nnumerous aviation-firsts, including her post as the first woman to serve as the\n82nd Commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy,\u201d said\nRosino. \u201cWe are fortunate to have her\nhere for this special day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Klein currently serves as the Dean of the College of\nLeadership and Ethics at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI. She completed a 35-year naval career March\n2017. Rear Admiral Klein served as the Secretary of Defense\u2019s Senior Advisor\nfor Military Professionalism from March 2014. \nPrior to 2014, Klein served as Chief of Staff for the newly created U.S.\nCyber Command. In 2008, she served as director of worldwide operations for the\nNavy\u2019s Network Warfare Command. Klein\u2019s leadership experience reaches from sky\nto sea, and from classroom to boardroom. \nIn 2011, she commanded an American military force of five ships, 30\naircraft, and over 3,300 Sailors and Marines in successful combat operations in\nthe Mediterranean Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The history of Oklahoma Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day\nbegan in 2017 when the Oklahoma legislature passed a bill to officially\nrecognize the contribution of Oklahoma women in the State\u2019s aviation and\naerospace industry December 9th annually. Former Governor Mary Fallin signed\nthe bill into law going into effect November 1 that same year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The date marks the birth of the famous Chickasaw aviator,\nPearl Carter Scott, of Marlow, Oklahoma. \nScott learned to fly at the age of 13 under legendary aviator Wiley\nPost. She became the youngest pilot in the United States with her first solo\nflight on September 12, 1929, the same year that Amelia Earhart established the\nfemale pilot group, the Ninety-Nines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith so many aviation historical dates in mind, the event\nwas moved from December this year to accommodate the 90th annual meeting of the\nNinety-Nines, Inc. International Organization of Women Pilots which will be\nheld November 2nd in Oklahoma City. We are excited to host 99s from across the\nUnited States for our special event, and since they are already in town, we\nwanted to honor them as well,\u201d said Sandra Shelton, public and government affairs\nliaison for OAC. \u201cNot only is it the 90th year since Pearl took her first\nflight with Wiley, this year we will celebrate the life of Oklahoman and\nAmerican aviator and Ninety-Nine, Geraldyn M. Cobb.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the keynote, a panel discussion is planned that will\ninclude Klein as well as other aviation and aerospace professionals who will\ncandidly answer questions about their own experiences and the future of the\nindustry. Commissioner of Labor, Leslie Osborn, will moderate the session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mayor David Holt, will present a congratulatory proclamation\non behalf of the City of Oklahoma City to the Ninety-Nines membership and to\ntheir International President, Jan McKenzie. \nKOCO Channel 5\u2019s news anchor Markie Martin, a private pilot, will serve as\nthe event\u2019s celebrity emcee for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Event Co-Chairs this year were Sandra Shelton and Gloria\nWilliams, senior human resources manager for AAR Corporation. Committee members\nwere Michelle Bouziden, OAC; Marc Stewart, AFA Gerrity Chapter; Schellon\nStanley, Guthrie Edmond Regional Airport; Leshia Pearson, ACES \/Commerce; Trina\nMadden, Oklahoma Chapter of Ninety-Nines; Bryan Dahlvang, FAA Monroney Center;\nBrian Hancock, Oklahoma Pilots Association; Janna Bacon, AAR; Kodi Wallace,\nGarver; Lorie Stephens, OKARNG; and Jeffrey James, AFA Gerrity Chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of the state\u2019s top aviation and aerospace entities\nparticipate in Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day including hosts,\nthe Oklahoma Air Force Association Central Oklahoma Gerrity Chapter, AAR\nCorporation, and the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. Community partners include the ACES program\nwithin the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, 110 Events, Acorn Growth Companies,\nGilchrist Aviation, Olsson, Omni Air International, University of Oklahoma School\nof Aviation Studies, Intercontinental Jet Service Corp., INTRUST Bank, NORDAM,\nPratt & Whitney, Spec Tech USA, Spirit Aerosystems, American Airlines,\nAmerican Jet Charter, Archein Aerospace, LLC, BizJet International Sales &\nSupport, Inc, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education,\nConsolidated Turbine Specialists, LLC, Delaware Resource Group, FAA Mike\nMonroney Aeronautical Center, First United Bank, Garver, King Aerospace,\nLochner, Mead & Hunt, National Business Aviation Association, Northrop-Grumman,\nRobinson Aviation, Inc., Rose State College, Stillwater Regional Airport, City\nof Stillwater, Vertical Aerospace, Ascend AAR Corporations, CeralUSA, Ada\nPublic Schools, Chickasha Wings Inc, Southeastern Oklahoma State University,\nand Moog Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n