M. J. Hegar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
M. J. Hegar
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mary Ottilie von Stein
March 16, 1976 Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Brandon Hegar
(m. 2011) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BA, MBA) |
| Website | Campaign website[Usurped!] |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1999–2011 |
| Rank |  Major |
Mary Jennings "MJ" Hegar (born March 16, 1976) is an American veteran of the United States Air Force and a former candidate for public office. She is known for her bravery as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan.
In 2012, Hegar sued the U.S. Air Force to end the Combat Exclusion Policy. This rule stopped women from serving in many combat jobs. In 2017, she wrote a book about her life called Shoot Like a Girl.
Hegar later ran for office in Texas. In 2018, she was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas's 31st district. She lost a very close race to the incumbent, John Carter. In 2020, she ran for the U.S. Senate but lost to the incumbent, John Cornyn.
Contents
Early Life and School
When MJ Hegar was seven, she moved with her mother and sister from Connecticut to Cedar Park, Texas. She grew up in Cedar Park and was very active in school. She was her high school's class president and played sports like soccer.
Hegar went to the University of Texas at Austin. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1999 and later returned to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 2016. While in college, she was part of the ROTC, a program that trains students to become officers in the military.
Career
Military Service
Hegar joined the U.S. Air Force in 1999. At first, she worked as an aircraft maintenance officer. She was in charge of keeping planes like the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the B-2 Stealth Bomber ready to fly. She was so good at her job that she was named Company Grade Officer of the Year in 2003.
In 2004, Hegar was chosen for pilot training. After finishing at the top of her class, she became a helicopter pilot. She flew an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter on dangerous missions. She served in Afghanistan, where she flew over 100 Combat Search and Rescue missions. These missions involve rescuing soldiers from behind enemy lines.
A Dangerous Rescue Mission
On July 29, 2009, during her third tour in Afghanistan, Hegar's helicopter was shot down by the Taliban. She was wounded by shrapnel in her arm and leg. Even after being hit, her crew managed to rescue the soldiers they were sent to save.
Their damaged helicopter had to make an emergency landing. Under heavy enemy fire, Hegar and her team were rescued by other U.S. Army helicopters. The rescue helicopters were so full that Hegar had to stand on the outside skids during the flight to safety.
For her bravery on this mission, Hegar was awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross with a Valor Device. She was one of the few women to receive this high honor.
Life After the Military
Because of an injury from the 2009 mission, Hegar could no longer fly. She left the military and moved to Austin, Texas. She worked for a healthcare company and later for Dell Computers. She also taught classes at the University of Texas at Austin.
In 2017, Hegar published her book, Shoot Like a Girl. It tells the story of her time in the Air Force. The movie rights for the book were bought by a major studio.
Running for Office
In 2017, Hegar decided to enter politics. She ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas. A campaign video she made, called "Doors," told her life story and became very popular online. She won the Democratic nomination but narrowly lost the final election.
In 2019, Hegar announced she was running for the U.S. Senate. She won the Democratic primary but lost the general election to Senator John Cornyn.
Fighting for Equal Opportunity
After her injury, Hegar wanted to continue her military career in a ground combat role. However, a rule called the Combat Exclusion Policy prevented women from applying for these jobs.
In 2012, Hegar and other servicewomen filed a lawsuit to challenge this policy. They argued that the rule was unfair and that the military should be able to choose the most qualified person for a job, no matter their gender.
The lawsuit helped bring attention to the issue. In 2013, the Secretary of Defense removed the Combat Exclusion Policy. This opened up thousands of combat jobs to women in the U.S. military.
Personal Life
Hegar married her husband, Brandon, in 2011. They live in Round Rock, Texas, and have two sons.
Hegar has several tattoos. One of them, a cherry blossom on her shoulder, covers scars from the shrapnel wounds she received in Afghanistan. She has said it was a way to make something beautiful out of her injuries. Her famous "Doors" campaign ad also talked about difficult times in her childhood.
Honors and Awards
- 2008: California Aviator of the Year
- 2009: Air Force Association, Outstanding Airmen of the Year
- 2013: Foreign Policy, The Leading Global Thinkers of 2013
- 2015: Army Women's Foundation Hall of Fame, inductee
- 2017: Merrimack College, Honorary PhD of public affairs
- 2018: American Red Cross Metro New York North, Exceptional Service Award
Military Ribbons
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
  |
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Device | 2011 |
 |
Purple Heart | 2009 |
  |
Air Medal | Four oak leaf clusters |
 |
Air Force Commendation Medal | One oak leaf cluster |
 |
National Defense Service Medal | |
  |
Afghanistan Campaign Medal | One service star |
 |
Humanitarian Service Medal | |
 |
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon | |
 |
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon | |
 |
Air Force Training Ribbon |
Works and Publications
- Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front (2017)
