1 woman, 1 big award

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kate Rust
  • Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  An Air Force colonel received the National Aeronautic Association's Katharine Wright Award Sept. 15 at a conference of the Ninety-Nines in Boulder, Colo.

Col. Catherine A. Chilton, senior mobilization assistant to the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and wife of Air Force Space Command Commander Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, was the award recipient.

"I am extremely honored," Colonel Chilton said. "This definitely is the greatest honor I have ever received. I'm also shocked and amazed because flying and flying machines have been a passion and a love as long as I can remember. I have also admired the people who fly them and the people who design, build and maintain them."

The award was established in 1981 and named for the sister of Orville and Wilbur Wright. It is given each year to a woman who has contributed to the success of others, or made a personal contribution to the advancement of the art, sport and science of aviation and space flight over an extended period of time.

The award's namesake, Katharine Wright, was the youngest of the Wright children with four older brothers. Katharine assumed the responsibilities at age 15 of running the household when her mother died. 

As the brothers' interest in flight grew, so did Katharine's support. She used the money she earned from teaching Latin and Greek to purchase supplies for her brothers' experiments. She later became an officer in their aircraft manufacturing business.

The 2007 award recognizes Colonel Chilton's work as a Air Force Reserve officer, flight test engineer, test director and aeronautical engineer. It also cites the crucial emotional, mental and public support she has provided her husband in his many roles, including an astronaut with more than 704 hours in space and the first astronaut to achieve the military rank of four-star general.

The colonel graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in applied physics from East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C., and earned a Master of Science degree in electro-optics, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Texas.

Katharine Wright's devotion to her family's goals would seem impossible in this era -- even without having one's own career. Yet Colonel Chilton seems to have struck a balance. The colonel said she has three priorities, "Family, serving our nation both in the Air Force Reserve and as a spouse to an active-duty Airman, and taking care of myself -- physically, spiritually, socially and intellectually." She said the third priority is the foundation.

"I cannot do the first two without being 'fit to fight,'" she said.

"Everyone in our family has passions, responsibilities and goals, and we respect each other's passions. We put in an enormous effort into balancing and scheduling. Everyone has to set priorities and make the tough compromises. Kevin, the girls and I approach this balance as a team. When I'm away, Kevin is both the commander of AFSPC and 'Mr. Mom,'" she said.

Often seen at her husband's side, Colonel Chilton has shown a strong commitment to the quality of life of the nation's veterans and military families, frequently taking side trips to visit hospitals, child development centers and spouses of deployed Airmen when traveling with her husband.

"Together the Chiltons are an impressive team," wrote Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, former AFSPC vice commander and now assistant vice chief of staff of the Air Force. "Her unique blend of enthusiasm, strong technical ability, and congenial personality enables the success of subordinates, peers and family while furthering her own work in the advancement of air and space technological innovation. Colonel Catherine Chilton epitomizes the intent of this prestigious award - she is a modern day Katharine Wright." 

General Klotz nominated the colonel for the award.

In addition to her Air Force career and support for her husband's missions, together they have four children: Madison,17; Mary Cate, 15; Megan, 13; and Morgan, 11.

"I couldn't be more proud of Cathy," said General Chilton. "She is truly an awesome mom, wife and Air Force officer. I still haven't figured out how she balances it all so well."

Colonel Chilton attributes her success to her parents, who instilled in her a great love of aviation.

"My passion continued to grow in the Air Force," she said. "Working with and for other Airmen who shared this same passion, pushed me to take on new challenges and learn."

A non-profit association, National Aeronautic Association is "dedicated to the advancement of the art, sport and science of aviation in the United States," according to its mission statement. 

The Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots was founded in 1929 by 99 licensed women pilots for the mutual support and advancement of aviation.

(Information on Katharine Wright provided by the NAA Web site and www.Thinkquest.org.)

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