Michelle 'Mace' Curran

This is how I compete. This is how I do well. It was more when I got to my first combat squadron where I suddenly felt in way over my head. And yes, I was with this squadron of other fighter pilots who are supposed to be my peers, my mentors, but I was the youngest. I was brand new. I just stepped into this environment and I felt very alone. And there were points then when if I hadn't

owed the Air Force a big long contract after they just spent millions of dollars to train me, I would have left. When the going got tough, like really tough and all that self-doubt crept in and I really felt like an imposter, when I was at the worst part of that, I would have left if it was an option.

owed the Air Force a big long contract after they just spent millions of dollars to train me, I would have left. When the going got tough, like really tough and all that self-doubt crept in and I really felt like an imposter, when I was at the worst part of that, I would have left if it was an option.

owed the Air Force a big long contract after they just spent millions of dollars to train me, I would have left. When the going got tough, like really tough and all that self-doubt crept in and I really felt like an imposter, when I was at the worst part of that, I would have left if it was an option.

But it just legitimately was not an option.

But it just legitimately was not an option.

But it just legitimately was not an option.

It's not an option. I mean, you're in the military, you have a service commitment that you're signed to. And I'm sure there was an option to switch career fields and stay in the military. But the idea of letting other people down after I had just, I mean, cause from an outside perspective, people were very impressed with what I was doing or like, you know, she worked so hard.

It's not an option. I mean, you're in the military, you have a service commitment that you're signed to. And I'm sure there was an option to switch career fields and stay in the military. But the idea of letting other people down after I had just, I mean, cause from an outside perspective, people were very impressed with what I was doing or like, you know, she worked so hard.

It's not an option. I mean, you're in the military, you have a service commitment that you're signed to. And I'm sure there was an option to switch career fields and stay in the military. But the idea of letting other people down after I had just, I mean, cause from an outside perspective, people were very impressed with what I was doing or like, you know, she worked so hard.

She went on a full ride to college. She decided she wanted to be a fighter pilot and boom, she made it happen, which is all true. But from the perspective that I was at, at that point, I was in a place I shouldn't be. And I didn't deserve to be there.

She went on a full ride to college. She decided she wanted to be a fighter pilot and boom, she made it happen, which is all true. But from the perspective that I was at, at that point, I was in a place I shouldn't be. And I didn't deserve to be there.

She went on a full ride to college. She decided she wanted to be a fighter pilot and boom, she made it happen, which is all true. But from the perspective that I was at, at that point, I was in a place I shouldn't be. And I didn't deserve to be there.

Well, I'm glad that you share that because I know on the outside looking in, people always come up with their own stories like, oh, of course it worked for her. She was such a great student. She could find a way. Of course she belonged there. And it's nice to hear that you actually felt like you didn't belong there.

Well, I'm glad that you share that because I know on the outside looking in, people always come up with their own stories like, oh, of course it worked for her. She was such a great student. She could find a way. Of course she belonged there. And it's nice to hear that you actually felt like you didn't belong there.

Well, I'm glad that you share that because I know on the outside looking in, people always come up with their own stories like, oh, of course it worked for her. She was such a great student. She could find a way. Of course she belonged there. And it's nice to hear that you actually felt like you didn't belong there.

Yeah. And I think that's why I share that story now. And I'm so transparent and vulnerable with people as I speak about my career. The Thunderbirds kind of gave me this platform where I could really inspire a lot of people. And I could definitely do that by just being like, hey, look, I flew those cool jets really close together and upside down and really fast.

Yeah. And I think that's why I share that story now. And I'm so transparent and vulnerable with people as I speak about my career. The Thunderbirds kind of gave me this platform where I could really inspire a lot of people. And I could definitely do that by just being like, hey, look, I flew those cool jets really close together and upside down and really fast.

Yeah. And I think that's why I share that story now. And I'm so transparent and vulnerable with people as I speak about my career. The Thunderbirds kind of gave me this platform where I could really inspire a lot of people. And I could definitely do that by just being like, hey, look, I flew those cool jets really close together and upside down and really fast.

Like that's impressive enough on its own lasting impact when you're actually truthful and vulnerable with people and share what you really struggled with because they don't expect that when they see the finished product of a Thunderbird pilot. And suddenly you're super relatable.