Retired Col. Nicole “FiFi” Malachowski, the first female Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Team pilot, is scheduled to share her story at Schriever Air Force Base, Dec. 19.
Col. Jack Fischer, 50th Space Wing vice commander, invited Malachowski to Schriever to share her story of overcoming obstacles to emerge stronger.
“We were classmates from the U.S. Air Force Academy,” he said. “I actually joined the bowling club to hang out with her because she’s awesome. We flew F-15E Strike Eagles together and crossed paths while she was a Thunderbird [pilot] and I was [flying] F-22’s because sometimes we were at the same air shows.”
Fischer said he admires Malachowski’s perseverance and grit through adversity and how she is a constant source of inspiration.