Reflections Magazine Issue #80 - Spring 2014 | Page 23

Feature Article

From Black Hawk Pilot to Motivational Speaker,

Elizabeth McCormick ’93
is Charting New Territory for Women

I

f you’re going to shatter a glass
ceiling, why not do it flying a Black
Hawk helicopter?

By Doug Goodnough

Elizabeth Vasher McCormick ’93
was one of the rare females to make it
through a male-dominated U.S. Army
flight school and become a helicopter
pilot. After serving her country with
honor for seven years, including flying
peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, an
injury ended her career as a Black Hawk
pilot. However, it began another career
path. Now, as an author and a motivational speaker, McCormick travels the
world sharing her story of perseverance
and personal success.

It Started at Siena Heights
After graduating from Siena Heights
with a degree in art, McCormick intended to pursue a career in architectural
engineering. However, as a 23-year-old
“Army wife” living in Fort Polk, La., she
said she soon felt another calling.
“I decided to put my degree to use
in service to our country,” McCormick
said of enlisting in the Army. “Because
of my degree from Siena Heights, I knew
I could go into the Army as an officer
and that I had the potential to do and
be anything.”