Commander leads and exceeds at 375th Operations Group

by Airman 1st Class Megan Friedl
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

3/12/2014 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- As a young girl, Col. Jeanette Voigt first dreamed of becoming a pilot, just like her father. So that's exactly what she did.

At that time women were not allowed to be pilots in the Air Force, but that never stopped her from going after her dream with her father's encouragement. By the time she was accepted to the Air Force Academy in 1987, the Air Force had been allowing women to fly for 11 years.

After pilot training, she began her career flying the KC-135R at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. As a young lieutenant, Voigt said it was a high point for women's leadership. More than half the flying squadron commanders at that time were women, which was rare.

Seeing women in these leadership positions inspired Voigt and she is now an accomplished 22-year veteran who serves as the 375th Operations Group commander. She is one of two female Operations Group commanders in Air Mobility Command.

Her responsibilities include managing seven squadrons and one detachment located at four different locations within the U.S., and she leads a group of 524 military, civilian and contract personnel.

In addition, she also manages a family with two sons alongside her husband, who is also a colonel in the Air Force.

"I feel like I have never had anything held back from me because of being a woman," said Voigt. "I really believe that I've gotten opportunities here in the Air Force that I never would have gotten out in the civilian world."

Voigt said the best part of being the OG commander now is interacting with her Airmen across a wide range of missions and seeing them in action, such as Capt. Shannon Williams, 458th Airlift Squadron executive officer.

Williams said, "I prefer not to dwell on gender in analyzing leadership qualities, however it is encouraging to see another female aviator who has been so successful."

For anyone interested in joining the Air Force, Voigt encourages them to pursue leadership, excellence and education.

"The Air Force is an environment to develop yourself, no matter what your gender or background is," said Voigt. "The Air Force does a great job of incorporating everyone into the service and drawing out the best in what people have to offer."