Nicole Malachowski

Nicole M. E. Malachowski
Nickname	FiFi
Born	September 26, 1974 (1974-09-26) (age 37)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1996–present
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/wars	Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame

Nicole Margaret Ellingwood Malachowski^[1] (born September 26, 1974) is a United States Air Force officer and the first female pilot selected to fly as part of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Thunderbirds. Her aviator call sign is "FiFi".^[2] Her first public performance was in March 2006 and she spent the 2006 and 2007 air show seasons flying the Number 3 (Right Wing) aircraft in the diamond formation. Prior to joining the USAF, Lieutenant Colonel Malachowski was a Civil Air Patrol Cadet.

Between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009, Malachowski was on special assignment, participating in the White House Fellows Program for the Class of 2008-2009, assigned to the General Services Administration.^[3]

Early years, education, and personal biography

Nicole Malachowski was born Nicole Ellingwood in Santa Maria, California, to Cathy and Robert Ellingwood.^[4] In high school, she was a member of the Nevada Civil Air Patrol^[5] and participated in AFJROTC, where she was rated cadet colonel, the highest rank a cadet could achieve. She started working on her pilot's license before graduating from high school.^[4] She graduated from Western High School in Las Vegas in 1992.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management, with a minor in French,^[6] from the United States Air Force Academy, graduating 124th of 922 in the Class of 1996.^[3] While at the academy she was both a pilot and cadet instructor pilot in the academy's TG-4 glider program. She also earned a Master of Arts degree from American Military University in National Security Policy.^[6]

Malachowski is married to Lieutenant Colonel Paul G. Malachowski, an F-15E Weapons System Operator. The couple met while both were serving as aircrew in the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.^[4] In April 2010 she was admitted to the Mother and Infant Care Center (MICC) of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, in expectation of the birth of twins. After a confinement of nine weeks, she gave birth to daughter Norah and son Garrick on June 6, 2010.^[7]

Professional career

USAF Thunderbirds portrait

Malachowski attended undergraduate pilot training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. She finished fourth in her class and selected the only F-15E Strike Eagle slot alloted to her class. After meeting height requirements for fighter pilots,^[8] she trained at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, with the 4th Fighter Wing.

She served two operational tours at RAF Lakenheath, England, with the 48th Fighter Wing; assignment to the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB; and as an Air Liaison Officer supporting the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea. During her second tour at Lakenheath, Malachowski deployed for four months in early 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, flying 26 combat missions. She applied and was accepted as a Thunderbird pilot in June 2005. She completed transition training to the F-16 Fighting Falcon with the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. She started flying with the Thunderbird Team in November 2005 until November 2007.

After successfully completing her tour with the USAF Thunderbirds in November 2007, including approximately 140 performances, Malachowski served on staff of the Commander, Air Force Warfare Center, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to June 2008.

Major Malachowski (far right) at July 2009 White House ceremony honoring WASPs.

Malachowski was selected to participate as a White House Fellow in Washington, D.C., from September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009, working in the General Services Administration with the Presidential Transition Support Team and as deputy chief of staff.^[3][6][9] Malachowski has been an advocate of recognition as veterans of women pilots who served during World War II. On July 1, 2009, she participated in a White House ceremony at which legislation (S.614) awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to former pilots of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) was signed into law by President Barack Obama. Although she became a wheelchair user because of a broken left leg, Lt. Col. Malachowski delivered remarks during the ceremony held March 10, 2010, in the United States Capitol awarding Deanie Bishop Parrish the medal on behalf of all 1,102 WASP pilots.^[10][11]

She is currently assigned to the office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs as an Action Officer in the Weapons Division.

Dates of promotion

Second lieutenant: May 29, 1996

First lieutenant: May 29, 1998

Captain: May 29, 2000

Major: April 1, 2006

Lieutenant colonel: January 2010^[12]

Assignments

• December 1996-March 1998: Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 98-03, Columbus AFB, Mississippi.
• March 1998-January 1999: Student, F-15E Formal Training Unit, 333d Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.
• January 1999-October 2000: F-15E pilot, Ground Training Officer, Standardization and Evaluation Liaisons Officer 492d Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England.
• October 2000-January 2003: F-15E Instructor Pilot, Chief of Life Support, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, Weapons Flight Electronic Combat Pilot, Functional Check Flight Pilot, Supervisor of Flying, 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.
• January 2003-January 2004: Army Liaison Officer, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Deputy Director of Main Air Support Operations Center, ASOC Fighter Duty Officer, 604th Air Support Operations Squadron, Camp Red Cloud, South Korea.
• January 2004-March 2004: Student, F-15E TX-2, Class 04-BTE2, 333d Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.
• March 2004-July 2005: F-15E Instructor Pilot, C-Flight Commander, Supervisor of Flying, 494th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom.
• August 2005-October 2005: Student, F-16C/D TX-2, Class 05-ATC, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona.
• November 2005-November 2007: pilot, USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
• December 2007-June 2008: Deputy Chief, Commander's Action Group, United States Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB.
• September 2008-September 2009: General Services Administration, White House Fellow
• September 2009 to Present: SAF/IA Weapons Division, Chief, International Developmental Fighter Programs

Awards and decorations

Nicole Malachowski's ribbon bar as of 1 August 2009:^[3]

From top, and from left to right:

• Row 1: Meritorious Service Medal (plus oak leaf cluster); Air Medal.
• Row 2: Air Force Commendation Medal, plus oak leaf cluster; Air Force Achievement Medal, two oak leaf clusters; Outstanding Unit Award, five oak leaf clusters.
• Row 3: Organizational Excellence Award; Combat Readiness Medal; National Defense Service Medal.
• Row 4: Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Kosovo Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
• Row 5: Korea Defense Service Medal; Air and Space Campaign Medal; Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon (Short Tour).
• Row 6: Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon (Long Tour); Air Force Longevity Service Award, with three oak leaf clusters; Air Force Training Ribbon.

Malachowski is rated a Senior Pilot with more than 2,100 flying hours, including more than 1,000 hours in the F-15E. Malachowski is a distinguished 2002 graduate of the Air Force's Squadron Officer School and was inducted into the Women in Aviation, International, Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2008.^[13]

References

United States Air Force portal

1. ^ "Class of 2008". American Military University. http://www.amuonline.com/military/AMU_08gradinsert.pdf. Retrieved 8 August 2009. 
2. ^ Wood, Sara (October 11, 2006). "First woman Thunderbird pilot proud to serve". United States Department of Defense. http://www.af.mil/pressreleases/release.asp?id=123028864. Retrieved July 12, 2007. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "Nicole M. Malachowski". Veterans Tributes. http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.asp?ID=337. Retrieved 8 August 2009. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Lake, Richard (June 17, 2005). "Female Thunderbird: First in Flight; Western High School grad makes history". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jun-17-Fri-2005/news/26737697.html. Retrieved December 24, 2008. 
5. ^ "Lady Thunderbird". Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation, Inc.. November 2008. http://womensmemorial.org/News/ladythunderbird.html. Retrieved December 24, 2008. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} Office of the Press Secretary (October 26, 2007). "President Bush Appoints 2008-2009 Class of White House Fellows" (Press release). The White House. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080626-25.html. Retrieved December 24, 2008. 
7. ^ Wings Across America archive
8. ^ Lake, Richard (2005). "Female Thunderbird: First in Flight". Las Vegas Review Journal. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jun-17-Fri-2005/photos/news.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jun-17-Fri-2005/news/26737697.html&usg=__z98GJPdM2BIXC_cxYc4DizBCdgA=&h=267&w=400&sz=15&hl=en&start=57&tbnid=9IPazRPykOusVM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnicole%2Bmalachowski%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40. Retrieved 9 August 2009. . Minimum height requirement is 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 meters).
9. ^ "First Woman Thunderbird Lands at GSA". U.S. General Services Administration. http://blogs.govexec.com/fedblog/images/GSA-Thunderbird.htm. Retrieved 8 August 2009. 
10. ^ "Gallery: The WASPS of World War II". McClatchy.com. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/10/90172_a90167/the-wasps-of-world-war-ii.html. Retrieved 14 Aug 2010. 
11. ^ Deanie Bishop Parrish
12. ^ "March officer promotions". airforcetimes.com. http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/04/airforce_march_officerpromos_043010/. Retrieved 14 Aug 2010. 
13. ^ "2008 WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame Inductees". Women in Aviation. March 2008. http://www.wai.org/08conference/2008_conf_phof.cfm. 

• "Major Nicole Malachowski and Major Samantha Weeks". Woman Pilot. April 2, 2008. http://womanpilot.com/?p=73. Retrieved December 24, 2008. 

External links

• 2008-2009 Class of White House Fellows
• CNN.com: Woman joins Air Force Thunderbirds
• F-16.net article - Thunderbirds' first female pilot announced with new 2006 pilots
• F-16.net article - Becoming Thunderbird is dream come true for Nevada native
• Air Force Times - Thunderbirds to get first female pilot — 2006-10-13
• Pilot to leave Nellis for White House Fellows Program

Persondata
Name	Malachowski, Nicole
Alternative names
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Date of birth	September 26, 1974
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death