Keywords
Mighty Pen Project, Veteran, Memoir, War, Soldiers, Air Force, Emergency Response
Abstract
An Air Force colonel pilot faces an emergency on her refueling plane and saves the day.
Articles, stories, and other compositions in this archive were written by participants in the Mighty Pen Project. The program, developed by author David L. Robbins, and in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, offers veterans and their family members a customized twelve-week writing class, free of charge. The program encourages, supports, and assists participants in sharing their stories and experiences of military experience so both writer and audience may benefit.
Author Biography
Colonel Atwood joined the Air Force after teaching high school in Oregon. Qualifying as Navigator, she reported to several units as their first female officer aviator. Colonel Atwood achieved Master Navigator status with over 3,100 career flying hours in the KC-135Q, KC-135A, E-4B, RC-135, T-1 and T-39 aircraft. She held several staff positions including: an internship as a young officer on the Air Staff, U.S. Air Force Headquarters; one of ten officers planning the U.S. Strategic Command organizational structure and standup of the Provisional Headquarters; an Air Force Headquarters branch chief establishing a revised Air Force Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear (CBN) policy for surviving enemy attacks on airfields; and Vice Director, Manpower and Personnel, (J-1) Joint Staff, Pentagon. Colonel Atwood commanded US Navy Training Squadron TEN, NAS Pensacola, 1997-1998, the 55th Operations Group, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, NE, 2002-2004 and deployed as Commander, 398th Air Expeditionary Group, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003. Retiring in 2005, Colonel Atwood has worked as a business manager of a law firm, a consultant and analyst in the defense industry, and is currently the Department of the Air Force Senior Advisor on the Air Force Memorial. She is married to Lieutenant Colonel Neal A. Puckett, USMC (Ret), Esq. and resides in Dallas, TX.
