Female Travis AFB service members share experiences on International Women’s Day
When Master Sgt. Jeannie Ecklund first joined the United States Air Force in 2001, she said there were very few women she worked with.
“It was a little lonely,” she said. “It took some adjustment to get used to not only the work pace but the work environment.”
Now a production superintendent of the 860th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, Ecklund said she has seen a huge growth in women serving in not only the Air Force but the entire Armed Forces as well. Today, women make up 21.1 percent of the Air Force, giving it the highest number of female service members among all the U.S. military branches, according to Air Force statistics.
Ecklund was joined by several of her female 860th Squadron members as well as members of the Aerial Port Squadron as Travis highlighted some of its female service members for International Women’s Day Monday. They shared details about their challenges, triumphs and even delivered advice for young women who are considering enrolling in the military.
Staff Sgt. Merci Ovard, a flying crew chief with the 860th Squadron, arrived at Travis more than a year ago right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In her position, she joins aircraft on missions and performs inspections and repairs on the road off-station.
“I go all over the world every week,” she said.
Ovard is the only female flying crew chief in her squadron, which provides combat-ready maintenance and personnel for assigned C-17 aircraft carrying
out Department of Defense missions. She said this has presented challenges but has also given her some amazing opportunities. Two
months ago, she said she led a team that changed an entire main landing gear offstation in Colorado.
“We were jacking the airplane, and there was ice on the ground,” she said. “Jacks were slipping, and I was leading the whole thing. It was really cool.”
Ovard is pleased to see more women joining the Air Force.
“The more women that join, the better it gets,” she said. “Some of the best people I’ve worked with that I really look up to have been other females and just seeing them kill it in that job. It’s made me believe I can do it too.”
Staff Sgt. Tianda King, a jet engine specialist with the 860th Squadron, has served at Travis for five years. She said being a woman in the Air Force has brought a range of experiences, with her feeling empowered on some days and frustrated on other days. She said a lot of these frustrations stem from microaggressions, such as male service members not making eye contact with her or coming to her for answers. However, King said these have provided her opportunities to dive in and “course correct.”
“I take it in stride,” she said. “For me, the trick is just being consistent with my intentions and remaining empathetic to the fact that not all the men that I
work with understand where I’m coming from and to be kind when I educate them.”
For the last 20 years, Ecklund has been stationed on Air Force bases throughout the country and even internationally at Osan Air Base in South Korea and Ramstein Air Base in Germany. During that time, she has worked as a mechanic on F-18s, U-2s, C-130s, and more. She has been stationed at Travis since 2018 and has risen to the role of production superintendent.
“I direct maintenance actions for 297 active duty, reserve and civilian members,” she said.
Ecklund said aircraft mechanics typically stay in that role throughout their careers. However, she said the Air Force had a need for more members in the mobility field — particularly for heavy cargo aircraft — 10 years ago, and she switched into that.
“One of my highlights would be getting to see the variations of different aircraft, different environments and working with different people,” she said. “The work on a cargo plane takes so many women, so many individuals together to make that mission happen. It’s amazing to be part of such a big group.”
Senior Master Sgt. Diana Barrett is a superintendent of air crates for the Aerial Port Squadron, which carries out logistical functions for the Air Force and processes
personnel and cargo.
“I find it very important to be able to deliver cargo and necessities to airmen and military members around the globe and that’s what we do on a daily basis,” she said. “We make sure that people, no matter where they are, they have the supplies and equipment necessary to get their missions done across the Department of Defense.”
Barrett said she has never had a female senior leader mentor throughout her career, so she tries to fulfill that role for other young women coming up in the ranks.
“In my career field, there are not a lot of females who make it to the rank of senior master sergeant chief,” she said. “What stands out to me is my ability to mentor the young females coming up in my career field today.”
Additionally, Barrett said a woman has not served as a superintendent of air crates in the last decade, making her the first to serve in that role in a while.
“I take that with a lot of pride and dedication,” she said.
Regarding the prospect of other women considering joining the Air Force, all the service members were in agreement: Go for it.
“There’s a space for them wherever they feel that they fit, not just in the role that they think might be typical for a female to be part of,” Ecklund said. “Women can do hard things, and they can do more than they’re
aware of.”
Ovard said she once had an instructor who opined that women do not make good maintainers, and she has set out to prove him wrong.
“Every female I’ve met that I’ve worked with has just been so good at their job,” she said. “Don’t let anyone set a limit for you.”
Ovard also encourages aspiring female Air Force members to “be loud” and “be confident.”
King said to never be afraid to step into male-saturated career fields.
“They give you the most opportunity to grow as a human being and to test your tenacity,” she said.
King also said the work of female service members would be “paving the way for other women to join after you.” For those who might feel uncomfortable at times, she has advice for that too.
“Let the discomfort push you into doing great things,” she said. “The things that are worth it, including being one of the only women doing what you’re doing.”
Barrett said the lessons taught on International Women’s Day should be universal throughout the year.
“It’s important we celebrate women’s accomplishments every single day,” she said.