My Story

I was hand-picked as one member of the initial cadre of women fighter pilots in the United States Air Force. I was the first woman to fly the F-16 (a single-seat, single-engine fighter) and the first woman to fly combat missions and instruct in the F-16. I have over 1300 hours in the F-16, including over 50 combat hours in Iraq and one ejection due to electrical failure.

In my 20+ years of service in the US Air Force I was also a navigator, piloted a Lear Jet, and spent time in North American Aerospace Defense Command, writing our homeland defense plans after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 – plans that are still in use today. After retiring from the Air Force, I went to work for Southwest Airlines, where I flew over 9,000 hours in a Boeing-737. I recently retired as a Captain from Southwest Airlines.

Today, I share my experiences and insights to help others live their best life! I share how to  develop your courage, control whose opinions you listen to, lead with vulnerability and the value of following your dreams through my speaking and coaching.  By sharing these lessons I inspire and encourage others.i

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What I Offer

The years spent in the Air Force, especially my first years in the F-16, taught me what it takes to transform an organization and be personally successful, even in unwelcoming environments. It taught me how to be composed, decisive and effective in a crisis. All those years of flying taught me how to be a compelling leader, to plan for success and to prioritize my efforts to allow time to do what is important to me.

Speaking and sharing my lessons and insights, empowering others and giving them the tools to overcome challenges and achieve success – no matter how they define success – is important to me. By sharing my experiences, I have inspired others to pursue their dreams. And by sharing my “lessons learned”, I can help others be successful.

Passion

Discover what you want and don’t let anything stand in your way

Focus

Stay focused on your objective - Don’t let yourself be distracted

Grit

Things worth having don’t come easily - When you are told no or fail, get back up and keep trying.

My Experiences

My Experiences

Sharon dreamt of flying from the time she was four years old and took her first commercial flight.  She achieved that dream at 25 and when she was 29, Sharon flew the F-16 for the first time – it was life changing.  She worked the remainder of her Air Force career to prove herself and pave the way for future women fighter pilots.

Sharon’s career taught her what it takes to be personally successful, even in unwelcoming environments. It taught her how to be composed, decisive and effective in a crisis.  All those years of flying taught me how to be a compelling leader, to plan for success and to prioritize my efforts to allow time to do what is important to me.

Speaking and sharing my lessons and insights, empowering others and giving them the tools to overcome challenges and achieve success – no matter how they define success – is important to Sharon.

By sharing her experiences, Sharon inspires others to pursue their dreams. And by sharing her “lessons learned”, Sharon helps others be successful.

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Resilience & Mindset

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Pivotal Events

Sharon and her Mom, Margaret and sister, Dawn, before her first commercial flight.

Sharon and her husband James, a constant source of support and encouragement.

Sharon’s first Air force flying assignment in the C-21

Sharon, James and their son Collin shortly before retirement from the Air Force.

Flying for Southwest airlines allowed more time for family.

Sharon’s last flight in a 737, celebrating with James and Collin.

It is my experiences as the first woman in the F-16 and the challenges I overcame to become a successful and respected fighter pilot that are at the heart of my inspirational speeches.

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“Don't confuse fearlessness and courage. Courage is being afraid, but doing what you need to anyway.”

-Sharon Preszler