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Personal Biography

Marjorie graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1980 in the first class with women. She completed Navy Flight Training and earned her wings of gold in 1981. Flying EC130s in an Electronic Warfare Mission, Marjorie earned her Aircraft Commander, Mission Commander and instructor pilot qualifications in the C130. She earned a warfare specialty, the ultimate requirement for advancement, in an era when women were extremely limited in their operati\onal opportunities in the Navy. She also served as a Navy flight instructor in the T-28B and T-34C Aircraft, teaching Student Naval Aviators. While serving as a Navy flight instructor, Marjorie served as the Public Affairs Officer in her squadron, providing aviation tours for numerous local youth organizations. After leaving the Navy, she flew as a B727 Flight Engineer and B757 First Officer with Northwest Airlines.

Flying almost exclusively with men in the Navy and Northwest Airlines during the 1980s and 1990s, Marjorie wasn't exposed to the Ninety-Nines organization. After taking time off from her aviation career to raise two children while her husband continued his career with Delta Airlines, Marjorie earned her CFI, CFII and MEI before moving back to her hometown of Watsonville, CA in 2011. Marjorie was welcomed into the Monterey Bay Chapter of the 99s shortly after returning to Watsonville. She has been flight instructing out of Watsonville, teaching multi-engine, single-engine and sport pilots on all levels since 2011. She continued expanding her aviation skills by earning her Airline Transport Pilot certificate in 2012 and her Tailwheel Endorsement in 2013.

Marjorie enthusiastically volunteers with numerous aviation organizations at the Watsonville Municipal Airport, KWVI, always willing to help the local pilot community improve their safety awareness and aviation knowledge by sharing her experience and leadership. She has served as a FAA Safety Team Representation, organizing WINGS presentations and aiding pilots to receive their FAA Master Pilot awards. She has facilitated aviation scholarships for local young people through the Pajaro Valley Aviation Academy, and trained student and certified pilots to develop a strong safety culture, incorporating the concept of standard operating procedures with her love of flying.

Marjorie devoted countless hours developing working procedures, preparing volunteer pilots, and coordinating flying exercises to organize the Watsonville Emergency Airlift Response Team, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, established to provide emergency airlift resources to the community during disasters, such as earthquakes and floods.

The unique and intense training Marjorie experienced in the military and airlines provides the strong foundation for her outreach and educational philosophy in aviation. Marjorie incorporates those valuable lessons into her instructing and volunteering to help develop safe, knowledgable and confident general aviation pilots. She especially enjoys working with brand new student pilots to guide their journey into the world of aviation, as they earn their private pilot certificate. She also loves working with rusty pilots to regain their flying skills, competency and confidence.

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