Cathy Girard

I enlisted in the Air Force in the Delayed Enlistment Program at 17, October of 1975. I went active duty in ’76 and my first career field was Security Police Law Enforcement at one of my bases,  I worked with the FBI.

 

My second career field was Supply, Petroleum Oils and Lubricants. I was the first woman to refuel aircraft on the ground, refueling F4 Wild Weasels, B 52 bombers, KC 135 aerial refueling tankers, EC and RC 135 electronic reconnaissance aircraft. I also refueled the SR 71 Black Bird and the F 117 Nighthawk.

 

My final career field was Air Operations Intelligence. I spent 17 years in that specialty. During that time, I worked training aircrews on enemy threats and potential missions if we went to war for both reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. When stationed in Japan, I worked with the Japanese Air Self Defense Force at 5th Air Force Indication and Warning Center. 

 

I retired in 1997 after being assigned at Nellis with the 547th Intelligence Squadron as the Officer In Charge of the Threat Training Flight as a Master Sergeant. The Flight is responsible for conducting tours of the Threat Training Facility affectionately known as the “Petting Zoo.”

 

Fall of 2003, I graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management with a minor in Information Management Cum Laude. I’ve been the Chief of Information Technology for a registered agency company. I was the Nye County School District Volunteer Coordinator from 2005 to 2012. During that time, I received the Nevada Association of School Board’s Friend to K-12 award.

 

I am very active in the veteran community volunteering with Disabled American Veterans, I’m the Senior Vice Commander for the DAV Department of Nevada. I am also a member of the Nye County Together With Veterans group that is in the initial stages of development in the community to reduce/prevent rural veteran suicide. I’ve received training on Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid as well as SafeTALK.

 

In 2019 I received with three others the Veteran Supporter of the Month for November. In July 2021 I was appointed to the Women Veterans Advisory Committee for the state of Nevada by Governor Sisolak.

 

I also volunteer with Southern Nye County Search and Rescue, I just completed Community Emergency Response Team Training.