Captain Rosemary Mariner, Pioneering Naval Aviator

• Captain Rosemary Mariner, USN was a pioneering female naval aviator
• Born: April 2, 1953, in Harlingen, TX
• Died: January 24, 2019, at age 65
• Raised in San Diego, CA
• She graduated from Purdue University at 19 years old
• First woman to earn an aeronautics degree from Purdue
• She was a licensed pilot upon joining the Navy in 1973
• Selected as part of the first class of women for flight training
• One of six female aviators to earn wings in 1974
• Became one of the first female Navy jet pilots
• She flew the A-4C and A-7E Corsair II
• Qualified as a surface warfare officer aboard USS Lexington (CV-16) in 1982
• First woman to command an operational naval aviation squadron
• Led VAQ-34 during Operation Desert Storm
• Earned a master's degree in National Security Strategy at the National War College in Washington, D.C.
• Served on the Staff of the Joint Chiefs in the Pentagon
• Last assignment before retirement was as Chairman of the Joint Chief's Chair in Military Strategy at the National War College
• Retired from the Navy as a captain in 1997 after 24 years of service
• Accumulated over 3,500 flight hours in 15 types of aircraft
• After retirement, she taught military history at the University of Tennessee
• Continued to advise on national defense policy and women's integration into the military
• In 1992, she worked to overturn laws preventing women from serving in combat
• Spoke on those issues in a 1982 interview
• She stated, "In modern warfare, the emphasis is not on physical strength, but on brain power operating sophisticated weapons systems," and "A machine gun is a great equalizer."

Explore the life of Captain Rosemary Mariner, a trailblazing figure in naval aviation. From earning her wings in 1974 to commanding VAQ-34 during Operation Desert Storm, she broke barriers. Discover her journey as one of the first female Navy jet pilots and her contributions to military strategy.