Michelle Curran

Michelle Curran (born 1987) is a United States Air Force major and a pilot in the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, or Thunderbirds. Curran is the Lead Solo Pilot for the Squadron and is the only female flying with the team in the 2020 season. Curran is the fifth woman to fly with the Thunderbirds.

Michelle Curran
Born1987 (age 33–34)
Medford, Wisconsin
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service2009-present
Rank Major
UnitThunderbirds

Early life

Curran was born in Medford, Wisconsin.[1] She studied criminal justice at the University of St. Thomas and competed in a number of sports there. Curran was also active in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at St. Thomas.[2]

Air Force career

Curran began service in the United States Air Force in 2009, earning a commission through the AFROTC.[3] Her first two years with the Air Force were spent in Pilot Training with the 14th Operations Group at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.[4] Her next year was spent as a F-16 student with the 308th Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.[4] Curran then spent three years at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan.[2][5] Curran later worked for three years as an F-16 instructor in the 335th Fighter Squadron at NAS JRB Fort Worth in Texas.[3][6] She was the first woman to fly as part of the 335th Fighter Squadron.[1]

Curran joined the Thunderbirds in 2019 and currently flies as Thunderbird 5, serving as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Demonstration Team. She flew as the Left-Wing Solo pilot during her first season with the Squadron, the first woman to fly in that position.[7] Curran is the only female pilot currently flying with the Squadron, and the fifth female pilot in the Squadron overall.[7][2]

Curran has logged over 1,500 total flight hours with the Air Force.[4] She served in Afghanistan for two months in 2016 as part of both Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support, acquiring 163 combat hours.[3][8]

Decorations

Curran's decorations as of 2020 were as follows:[4]

Air Medal
 Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Promotion dates
InsigniaRankDate
MajorJuly 2019
CaptainAugust 2013
First LieutenantAugust 2011
Second LieutenantAugust 2009

References
  1. Lange, Katie. "Face of Defense: This Thunderbird Flies High". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  2. Pulia, Shalayne. "Meet the Only Female Fighter Pilot Flying Over New York City Today". InStyle. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  3. "Michelle Curran". U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  4. "Thunderbirds" (PDF). FAA. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  5. "Flying High (And Upside Down)". University of St. Thomas - Minnesota. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  6. "'It's a lot of responsibility.' Thunderbirds pilot hopes to inspire girls". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  7. O'Donnell, Norah. "Female Thunderbird pilot inspiring others to chase their dreams". CBS News. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  8. Langhorne, William. "Medford woman soaring over Milwaukee as Thunderbirds' second-ever female solo pilot". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
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