USAF Maj. Michelle "Mace" Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team (There have been girls who had really long ponytails get their hair stuck in the seat.) Instead, Im riding with Lieutenant Colonel Eric Gorney, a very kind and patient pilot who showed me, using a model plane, exactly what kind of maneuvers wed be doing once we got into the sky. When Curran isnt speaking, she volunteers as part of the Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group, spends time with her stepson and husband rock climbing, and pursues her mountaineering goals. World War II vintage aircraft from the American Air Power Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, Long Island, were the number of women doing After nearly a decade of active service, including deployments to Afghanistan and Japan, Curran applied to the Thunderbirds. Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, before her advancement to Thunderbird #5, lead solo in the 2020/21 airshow season. Curran fiercely resisted her assailant, police said. Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team. It's so important for others to hear your struggles. In this workshop, combat veteran Michelle Curran draws from her experiences as an F-16 fighter pilot and USAF lead solo pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds to walk audiences through interactive exercises to help them identify characteristics of their own inner critic and the reality (or lack thereof) of what it says, as well as provide tools and resources for overcoming the war within. The whole team then returns for He is in his second season with the team and hails from Fort Collins, Colo. 1 jet, and leading all air demonstrations, he commands the 130-person squadron. See more, including their schedule of performances, at the US Air Force Thunderbirds site, afthunderbirds.com. The third one is confirmed by her own admission. Drawing from her 13 years as a Fighter Pilot, Curran delivers actionable content and wit to leave audiences both informed and entertained. In her less visible but equally crucial role with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran served as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation for the team, a leadership role which will positively impact the trajectory of the team in upcoming seasons.