A Milestone as First Female Pilot of the Presidential Helicopter

Attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Marine Corps, Jennifer Grieves had extensive military program management experience. As a Marine Helicopter Squadron pilot in the early 2000s, Jennifer Grieves participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2008, as a Major, she made history as the first female pilot of the presidential helicopter, Marine One.

Over a 14-month period, she was responsible for piloting leaders such as President Barack Obama, Vice President Dick Cheney, and President George W. Bush from Andrews Air Force Base to a wide range of locations.

On the last day of her rotation, she flew President Barack Obama from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. In honor of her achievement, she was part of an all-female three-person crew on her final flight piloting Marine One, another first for the helicopter. As she described to the Associated Press, she had not considered how significant her achievement was until the rotation ended, as flying was simply something she loved to do.