Sarah Deal
Encyclopedia
LtCol Sarah Deal Burrow, United States Marine Corps
, became the first female Marine selected for Naval aviation training, and subsequently the Marine Corps' first female aviator
in 1993.
Deal earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in aerospace flight technology from Kent State University
in 1992. She was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in May 1992. Though she had already earned her pilot's license while in college, the Marine Corps did not yet have any female aviators. After Basic School
at Quantico, she attended air traffic control
school. When U.S. military policy was changed to allow women to fly combat aircraft in 1993, Deal requested to become an aviator. She was selected for training in July 1993. She began her flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola
in the T-34C Turbo Mentor
aircraft. She went on to helicopter training in the TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopter
and earned her aviator's wings on April 21, 1995.
Deal was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 as a CH-53E
pilot.
Deal completed her active duty service in 2004 and transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve. In May 2006, Deal was assigned to HMH-769
where she serves as a reserve CH-53E pilot. LtCol Deal is married to Philip M. Burrow, a former Navy
F-14 Tomcat
pilot who now flies for United Airlines
. They are the parents of twin boys and a third son born in November 2006.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, became the first female Marine selected for Naval aviation training, and subsequently the Marine Corps' first female aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
in 1993.
Deal earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in aerospace flight technology from Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
in 1992. She was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in May 1992. Though she had already earned her pilot's license while in college, the Marine Corps did not yet have any female aviators. After Basic School
Basic School
The Basic School is where all newly commissioned United States Marine Corps officers are sent to learn the art and science of being an Officer of Marines. TBS currently lasts 26 weeks. During those 26 weeks, the new officers are given extensive classroom, field, and practical application training...
at Quantico, she attended air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
school. When U.S. military policy was changed to allow women to fly combat aircraft in 1993, Deal requested to become an aviator. She was selected for training in July 1993. She began her flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
in the T-34C Turbo Mentor
T-34 Mentor
The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is a propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The earlier versions of the T-34, dating from around the late 1940s to the 1950s, were piston-engined. These were eventually succeeded by the upgraded T-34C...
aircraft. She went on to helicopter training in the TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopter
Bell 206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
and earned her aviator's wings on April 21, 1995.
Deal was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 as a CH-53E
CH-53E Super Stallion
The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the United States military. It was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, a seventh blade to the main rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. Sailors commonly refer to the Super...
pilot.
Deal completed her active duty service in 2004 and transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve. In May 2006, Deal was assigned to HMH-769
HMH-769
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 769 was a United States Marine Corps CH-53E helicopter squadron. Nicknamed the "Titan", the squadron was based at Edwards Air Force Base, California and fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 46 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing...
where she serves as a reserve CH-53E pilot. LtCol Deal is married to Philip M. Burrow, a former Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
pilot who now flies for United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
. They are the parents of twin boys and a third son born in November 2006.
See also
- Vernice ArmourVernice ArmourVernice Armour is a former Captain in the United States Marine Corps who was the first African-American female naval aviator in the Marine Corps and America's first African American female combat pilot in the United States military...
, first African-American female U.S. Marine Corps aviator (July 2001) - Elizabeth A. Okoreeh-BaahElizabeth A. Okoreeh-BaahCaptain Elizabeth A. Okoreeh-Baah is an officer in the United States Marine Corps and on March 13, 2006, she became the first female to pilot the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.-Biography:...
, first female V-22 OspreyV-22 OspreyThe Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing , and short takeoff and landing capability...
tilt-rotor pilot
External links
- "60 Years of Service - Women in the Corps", United States Marine Corps, 2003.
- Dorr, Robert F. "CH-53E pilot was first female Marine aviator", Army Times, August 9, 2005.