Wing’s 1st female fighter pilot

Former Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., T-38 aggressor pilot Maj. Ashley Rolfe has become the first female fighter pilot in the history of the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes ANG Base. Rolfe grew up as an Air Force “brat” around Tyndall AFB and wanted to continue the family legacy of military service set by her father and grandfather. She also flew T-38s during pilot training at Columbus AFB, Miss. The Air Force Academy graduate served on active-duty for 11 years, including a tour at Tyndall where she flew the T-38 aggressor-pilot role as part of the F-22 Raptor fighter program. Women first entered pilot training in 1976; and fighter pilot training in 1993. The Air National Guard has 195 female pilots – only 10 are fighter pilots. (Source: 104th Fighter Wing 08/18/16)