Nicole Malachowski

You know, second of all, you know, I'm just, I'm dripping sweat. I was sitting there thinking, hey, that went well, like nothing bad happened. I was, you know, it was just an adrenaline dump. And now I've got to go to the autograph line and interact with people and be energetic and happy.

And I remember being on that autograph line and there was all sorts of media there because first woman done a real pilot, right? And I'm looking down at the other male pilots, great teammates, fantastic, fantastic men, fantastic friends. They've got like 10, 20 people standing in front of them. And all of a sudden, it was like slow motion, you guys.

And I remember being on that autograph line and there was all sorts of media there because first woman done a real pilot, right? And I'm looking down at the other male pilots, great teammates, fantastic, fantastic men, fantastic friends. They've got like 10, 20 people standing in front of them. And all of a sudden, it was like slow motion, you guys.

And I remember being on that autograph line and there was all sorts of media there because first woman done a real pilot, right? And I'm looking down at the other male pilots, great teammates, fantastic, fantastic men, fantastic friends. They've got like 10, 20 people standing in front of them. And all of a sudden, it was like slow motion, you guys.

I looked up and in front of me, there was a line easily 100 deep. This was in Fort Smith, Arkansas. And what do you think the demographic of that line looked like? All girls. Women. Young women, right?

I looked up and in front of me, there was a line easily 100 deep. This was in Fort Smith, Arkansas. And what do you think the demographic of that line looked like? All girls. Women. Young women, right?

I looked up and in front of me, there was a line easily 100 deep. This was in Fort Smith, Arkansas. And what do you think the demographic of that line looked like? All girls. Women. Young women, right?

You know, from the ages of about 10 to 16. And they were looking at me as if I had hung the moon, right? And it was in that moment that I realized it means something to see someone who looks like you 16. And it wasn't about me or my name. It's that my presence... you know, my presence allowed them to believe in their own dreams, right?

You know, from the ages of about 10 to 16. And they were looking at me as if I had hung the moon, right? And it was in that moment that I realized it means something to see someone who looks like you 16. And it wasn't about me or my name. It's that my presence... you know, my presence allowed them to believe in their own dreams, right?

You know, from the ages of about 10 to 16. And they were looking at me as if I had hung the moon, right? And it was in that moment that I realized it means something to see someone who looks like you 16. And it wasn't about me or my name. It's that my presence... you know, my presence allowed them to believe in their own dreams, right?

That whether it was flying aircraft or joining the military or not, that these things were possible. And so for you to say we're very lucky is so true, right? Talk about being born in the right country at the right time.

That whether it was flying aircraft or joining the military or not, that these things were possible. And so for you to say we're very lucky is so true, right? Talk about being born in the right country at the right time.

That whether it was flying aircraft or joining the military or not, that these things were possible. And so for you to say we're very lucky is so true, right? Talk about being born in the right country at the right time.

My successes that are on that, you know, resume or whatever are the result of TLC, timing, luck, and circumstance, and a heck of a lot of hard work by other people who invested and mentored me.

My successes that are on that, you know, resume or whatever are the result of TLC, timing, luck, and circumstance, and a heck of a lot of hard work by other people who invested and mentored me.

My successes that are on that, you know, resume or whatever are the result of TLC, timing, luck, and circumstance, and a heck of a lot of hard work by other people who invested and mentored me.

You know, I appreciate what you're saying and I hope you are hearing in that story on that day at age 30, I evolved, right? That day I realized it does mean something. And now it's on me. It's my responsibility now, you know, to live up to this and that I need to be accountable to these young faces, you know, that are looking up to me. And over the last 20 years, I've lived my life differently.

You know, I appreciate what you're saying and I hope you are hearing in that story on that day at age 30, I evolved, right? That day I realized it does mean something. And now it's on me. It's my responsibility now, you know, to live up to this and that I need to be accountable to these young faces, you know, that are looking up to me. And over the last 20 years, I've lived my life differently.

You know, I appreciate what you're saying and I hope you are hearing in that story on that day at age 30, I evolved, right? That day I realized it does mean something. And now it's on me. It's my responsibility now, you know, to live up to this and that I need to be accountable to these young faces, you know, that are looking up to me. And over the last 20 years, I've lived my life differently.

being very proud to be the first woman Thunderbird pilot, being very proud to be one of the first women fighter pilots. And getting back to Secretary Hegseth and the current president, I think what they've done is they're kind of conflating this idea of DEI, which apparently my definition of it and theirs must be quite different.