Tammie Jo Shults (born Bonnell; born November 2, 1961) is an American retired commercial airline captain, author, and former naval aviator. She was one of the first female fighter pilots to serve in the United States Navy. Following active duty, she became a pilot for Southwest Airlines. Shults retired from Southwest Airlines in 2020.
Tammie Jo Bonnell was born on November 2, 1961, and grew up on a ranch near Tularosa, New Mexico. As a child, she watched jet aircraft from nearby Holloman Air Force Base practice maneuvers in the skies above her home. This early exposure to aviation sparked her fascination with flying, and she was particularly inspired by the story of missionary pilot Nate Saint. Determined to become a pilot herself, she investigated the possibility of a career in flying during her final year of high school. Unfortunately, she was told that there were no professional women pilots at the time.
Undeterred, Shults attended MidAmerica Nazarene College, where she earned degrees in biology and agribusiness, graduating in 1983. It was during her time at MidAmerica that she met a woman who had qualified as a pilot for the United States Air Force. This encounter reignited Shults’ dream of becoming a pilot, prompting her to apply to both the Air Force and the Navy. While the Air Force turned her down, she was accepted by the Navy for Aviation Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
After completing the twelve-week course and receiving her commission as an ensign on June 21, 1985, Shults went on to attend flight training at NAS Pensacola. There, she trained and qualified for her pilot’s wings in the T-34. Following her flight training, Shults was stationed at Naval Air Station Chase Field as a flight instructor for the T-2 Buckeye. She later qualified in the A-7 Corsair II with training (RAG) squadron, VA-122, at Naval Air Station Lemoore. Shults’ next assignment was at VAQ-34, a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron at the Pacific Missile Test Center located at Point Mugu, California. When the squadron relocated to NAS Lemoore in 1991, she became an instructor under the command of CAPT Rosemary Mariner, the first woman to command an operational air squadron.
During her time in the Navy, Shults achieved another groundbreaking milestone. She became one of the first female naval aviators to qualify in the F/A-18 Hornet when her squadron transitioned from the EA-6B Prowler. Her dedication and skill in the cockpit earned her accolades among her peers.
After leaving the Navy, Shults joined Southwest Airlines as a pilot. Throughout her career with the airline, she consistently displayed professionalism, leadership, and a strong commitment to passenger safety. Her exceptional piloting skills were put to the test on April 17, 2018, when she served as the captain of Southwest Airlines Flight 1380. During the flight, the aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure, resulting in rapid decompression. Despite the emergency situation, Shults skillfully maneuvered the Boeing 737-700 and successfully landed the plane, saving the lives of everyone on board.
Tammie Jo Shults’ remarkable career and achievements in aviation have had a significant impact on society. As one of the first female fighter pilots in the United States Navy, she shattered gender barriers and paved the way for other women in the field. Her courageous and skillful actions during the emergency landing of Flight 1380 further solidified her status as a trailblazer and a true hero.
Awards:
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