CLARKSBURG, W.Va. –
An all-female aircrew from the West Virginia National Guard participated in the 3rd annual Girls in Aviation Day held at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, September 28, 2024.
The aircrew, led by Capt. Hollianne Houck, Commanding Officer of Company C, 1-150th Assault Battalion, 772nd Troop Command, and Capt. Rebekah E. Williams, piloted their “unmanned” UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter to the event, landing to the cheers and applause of hundreds of young girls and teens who came to the event meant to inspire and expose young females to the broad range of career opportunities in the aviation industry.
It was the very first flight in West Virginia Army National Guard history that an all-female crew piloted and crewed a Blackhawk.
Once the Blackhawk powered down, young girls and their parents flocked to look inside, talk to the aircrew, sit in the pilot’s seat, put on safety gear the flight crew wear, take pictures in the jump seats, and perhaps set their own personal goals to pilot one themselves.
“A lot of girls just do not traditionally see themselves in such roles as pilots,” stated Williams, one of three fully certified female Blackhawk pilots in the West Virginia Guard. “Some of the girls get so excited and realize for the first time that they can work in aviation career fields and even pilot such advanced aircraft. It’s so inspiring for each of us to inspire these dreams and realizations in young women... to be role models and to demonstrate and show them first-hand what is achievable.”
The Girls in Aviation Day event in Clarksburg is sponsored locally by the Mountain State Chapter of Women in Aviation International, the largest nonprofit organization in the world dedicated to increasing the number of women involved in all aspects of aviation and aerospace. The events held all over the world provide girls a chance to explore more non-traditional career paths such as aircraft technicians, avionics technicians, pilots and engineers.
“We are so very proud to participate in this event and to represent the West Virginia National Guard for all the young women and girls who attended today,” said Houck. “Our entire One Guard family supports inclusion and providing opportunities for service for all our fellow West Virginians. It is so important we show young girls that no dream is out of their reach. Hopefully, we have motivated many here today to reach for whatever personal goals they have for themselves and to see the possibilities that are out here waiting for them. Girls rule!”
Additional members of the all-female aircrew included 2nd Lt. Bethany Ramsey, Staff Sgt. Lexi Beach, Staff Sgt. Emma Harrison, and Spc. Jasmine Towns. On the ground, Staff Sgt. Sophia Perez rounded out the event personnel representing the Guard.