News>Air Force officer, civilian receive role model awards at Women's History Month observance
Photos
Gail McGinn, deputy undersecretary of defense for plans, presents the 2010 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Role Model Award to Lt. Col. Jill Long during a Pentagon ceremony March 18, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)
Gail McGinn, deputy undersecretary of defense for plans, presents the 2010 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Role Model Award to Julie Moran during a Pentagon ceremony March 18, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)
by Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
3/18/2010 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- An Air Force officer and a civilian each received the 2010 Women's History Month Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Role Model Award here March 18.
Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Plans Gail McGill presented Lt. Col. Jill Long and Julie Moran the awards during the annual Women's History Month Observance Program in the Pentagon Auditorium.
Colonel Long currently is the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron director of operations at Aviano Air Base, Italy, and Ms. Moran is the principal analyst at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center in Dayton, Ohio.
"The awardees have displayed exceptional character as role models representing their service with dignity and pride, and have contributed in an outstanding manner to the accomplishment of their unit's mission," said Clarence Johnson, principal director of the Office of Diversity and Management and Equal Opportunity.
Early in her career, she was a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot who became one of the first females to cross-flow from large aircraft into fighter aircraft and was one of the first female A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots. Today, Colonel Long engages audiences about her aviation, military and personal experiences. Off duty, she is one of only seven female U.S. air show performers. The colonel's speeches and mentoring programs have positively impacted aspiring aviators as well as NATO flight instructors, nominating officials said.
As principal intelligence analyst, Ms. Moran guided the research efforts of scientists and engineers in data analysis and reporting, while overseeing a $25-million annual Overhead Persistent Infrared analysis budget for the intelligence community and warfighters.
The STEM Role Model Award is one aspect of the Women's History Month Observance Program that showcases the Department of Defense's commitment to honoring and recognizing the myriad contributions women have made to DOD and the nation. During the program, DOD officials also honored Women Airforce Service Pilots, Women's Army Corps and held a panel on Women in Aviation.
