Meghan Ripple
President
Meghan is transitioning from 25 years serving in the Air Force to retirement and a chance to give back to the community, devote time to her passion projects and chase her three little boys. She is excited to get the word out about Women in Aviation across this amazing state and help the next generation. She grew up in Farmington NM in a family that helped her believe she could do anything. She attended the University of Colorado, Boulder on an Air Force ROTC scholarship, studying electrical engineering because that's what the Air Force would pay for. Within the first few weeks of ROTC, she was hooked on the camaraderie, call to service and challenge the Air Force provided. Meghan attended pilot training graduating in 2000. Her first duty station was Hurlburt Field, FL where she flew the AC-130 "Spooky" Gunship. She also met Erik, her husband of 20 years while stationed in Florida. Erik is still serving on active duty as the director of analysis for the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Command.
Meghan was in the first wave of Air Force Special Operations forces to deploy after the 9/11 attacks and spent most of the next sixteen years deployed. She is a graduate of the US Air Force Weapons School where she also instructed. Meghan had the privilege of commanding squadron and group formations in combat and in garrison.
Erik and Meghan started their family in 2010 while stationed in Colorado Springs where she served as an Air Officer Commanding for an Air Force Academy cadet squadron and had the opportunity to fly the Air Force Academy parachute team Twin Otter. Outside of operational flying duties, Meghan was stationed at the Pentagon serving on the Joint Staff planning Interagency National Preparedness Exercises and as a military advisor to the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. She has over 4,500 hours including more than 2,500 combat hours, mostly in the AC-130 but also a few in the T-37, T-44, MC/HC-130, UH-1, HH-60, and CV-22. Her most recent posting was leading training for the Air Force rotary-wing pilot pipeline, operational support to the Air Force Survival School, and graduate training for UH-1 and HH-60 helicopters, CV-22, and HC/MC-130J. In retirement she hopes to pay-it-back through civilian flight instruction and getting young people of all backgrounds to see themselves in aviation.