Nicole Malachowski: podcast appearances and interviews

Nicole Margaret Ellingwood Malachowski is a retired United States Air Force officer and the first female pilot selected to fly as part of the U S Air Force Thunderbirds. She completed her education at the United States Air Force Academy in 1996, after which she was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Malachowski's aviation career with the Thunderbirds began in March 2006, where she flew the Number 3 aircraft in the diamond formation during the 2006 and 2007 air show seasons. Her aviator call sign was FiFi. In addition to her flying duties, she participated in the White House Fellows Program during 2008-2009, serving on special assignment with the General Services Administration. She later commanded the 333d Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in 2011. Malachowski also held the position of executive director of the White House Joining Forces initiative, which supports veterans, service members, and military families, in September 2015. She retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 2017 due to medical reasons. After her military career, she became a speaker and advocate for patients with tick-borne illnesses. In recognition of her achievements, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2019.