In this interview with Col. Merryl Tengesdal, USAF (ret.) @dragonlady788, the only Black woman to fly the U2 reconnaissance plane and a contestant on the reality television series TOUGH AS NAILS, she talks about growing up in the Bronx, her start in aviation with the Navy, flying H60 helicopters at sea, challenges with supervisors, the difference in Navy and Air Force aviation cultures, the importance of mentoring and how to find mentors, flying the U2 and how to become a U2 pilot, parenting and how it affects career choices, the journey of fostering to adoption, participating in TOUGH AS NAILS, and the transition from military to civilian life.
Liz Booker is a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot and writer for young adults. She hosts the Aviatrix Book Club and the Aviatrix Book Review Website and Podcast. This episode is a rebroadcast of the Aviatrix Book Review in collaboration with
Coming Home Well. You can find Liz @LiteraryAviatrix on social media.
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Military Aviatrix
Military Aviatrix hosted by Liz Booker is a collaboration with Literary Aviatrix in exploring the amazing women of Military Aviation and opening the doors of the mind for young women to pursue their dream of becoming a pilot. Plug in and listen to stories of overcoming adversities to inspire others to persevere, historians reminding us of the sacrifices that come with war; and the heroic women who paved the way for women to soar with their dreams of flight.
Meet the Host
Liz Booker transitioned to full-time writer in 2019 after a 28-year career as a Coast Guard helicopter pilot and foreign diplomat. She holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She continues to fly, pursuing an extensive aviation bucket-list—a.k.a. ‘research’.