First Female Osprey Pilot

Air Force Academy graduate 1st Lt. Candice Killian is USAF’s first qualified female CV-22 pilot. “I didn’t find out I was the first female pilot until they chose me” for pilot training, explained Killian. She added, “It’s an honor that they would choose me. It’s nice to be a part of this elite organization.” Killian is now designated Osprey pilot No. 97 since she is the 97th CV-22 pilot to go through the training pipeline. She’s now heading to her next duty station: Hurlburt Field, Fla. Lt. Col. Larry Riddick, commander of the 71st Operations Squadron at Kirtland AFB, N.M., that trains Osprey pilots, said Killian “met and in some cases exceeded” expectations. “It’s been fantastic having her here and I look forward to hearing about her career,” he said. (Kirtland report by Stefan Bocchino)