Martha McSally facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha McSally
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Official portrait, 2019
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| United States Senator from Arizona |
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| In office January 3, 2019 – December 2, 2020 |
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| Appointed by | Doug Ducey |
| Preceded by | Jon Kyl |
| Succeeded by | Mark Kelly |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Ron Barber |
| Succeeded by | Ann Kirkpatrick |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Martha Elizabeth McSally
March 22, 1966 Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Donald Henry
(m. 1997; annulled 1999) |
| Education | United States Air Force Academy (BS) Harvard University (MPP) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1988–2010 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands | 354th Fighter Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Operation Southern Watch Operation Allied Force Operation Enduring Freedom |
Martha Elizabeth McSally (born March 22, 1966) is an American politician and former military pilot. She represented Arizona in the U.S. Congress from 2015 to 2020, serving in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
McSally served in the United States Air Force for 22 years and reached the rank of colonel. She was the first American woman to fly a fighter jet in combat. She was also the first woman to lead a fighter squadron.
In 2001, McSally challenged a military rule that required servicewomen in Saudi Arabia to wear an abaya, a long, body-covering robe. She won her case, and the rule was changed.
As a member of the Republican Party, McSally was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014. Later, she was appointed to the U.S. Senate. She lost a special election for the Senate seat in 2020 to Mark Kelly.
Contents
Early Life and School
Martha McSally was born in 1966 in Warwick, Rhode Island. She was the youngest of five children. Her father, Bernard, was a lawyer, and her mother, Eleanor, was a reading specialist. When McSally was 12, her father died of a heart attack.
In 1984, McSally graduated as the top student from St. Mary Academy – Bay View. She then attended the United States Air Force Academy, where she earned a degree in Biology in 1988. After that, she got a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University.
A Career in the Military
McSally became a pilot in the U.S. Air Force in 1991. She first worked as a flight instructor in Texas. In 1994, she began training to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft.
In 1995, McSally was sent to Kuwait. There, she flew combat missions over Iraq as part of Operation Southern Watch. This made her the first American woman to fly a fighter jet in combat.
Later, she served in Europe and worked for Senator Jon Kyl in Washington, D.C., as a security advisor. In 2004, she became the commander of the 354th Fighter Squadron. She and her squadron were sent to Afghanistan. In 2006, her squadron won a major award for its excellent performance.
Challenging a Military Rule
While stationed in Saudi Arabia, McSally was required to follow a military rule that forced servicewomen to wear a long robe called an abaya when off base. She felt this rule was unfair to women.
In 2001, she filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense to change the policy. She argued that the rule suggested women were not equal to men. In an interview, she said, "I can fly a single-seat aircraft in enemy territory, but [in Saudi Arabia] I can't drive a vehicle."
In 2002, the military announced that servicewomen would no longer be required to wear the abaya. Congress also passed a law to make sure this rule could not be brought back.
Retirement from the Air Force
McSally retired from the Air Force in 2010. After her military career, she worked as a professor at a security studies center in Germany.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
In 2012, McSally ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Arizona but lost a very close race to Ron Barber.
She ran again in 2014 and won, becoming the representative for Arizona's 2nd congressional district. The election was so close that the votes had to be recounted. She won by just 167 votes. She was the first Republican woman to represent Arizona in the U.S. House.
In 2016, McSally was reelected by a larger margin. During her time in the House, she was known for working on bills related to national security and helping veterans.
Running for the U.S. Senate
2018 Election
In 2018, McSally ran for the U.S. Senate seat that was opened by Senator Jeff Flake's retirement. She won the Republican primary but lost the general election to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. It was a very close race, and McSally congratulated Sinema on becoming Arizona's first female senator.
Appointment to the Senate
In late 2018, Arizona's other senator, Jon Kyl, resigned. He had been appointed to the seat after the death of Senator John McCain. Governor Doug Ducey then appointed McSally to fill the empty Senate seat.
McSally and Sinema were sworn in on the same day, January 3, 2019. They became the first two women to serve as U.S. senators from Arizona at the same time.
2020 Special Election
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Because McSally was appointed, a special election was held in 2020 to decide who would serve the rest of Senator McCain's term. McSally ran to keep her seat.
She faced Democrat Mark Kelly, a former astronaut. Kelly won the election.
Work in the Senate
During her time in the Senate, McSally served on several important committees. These included the Armed Services Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
In 2020, she had a sharp exchange with a reporter who asked her a question about President Trump's impeachment trial. Her campaign later sold t-shirts with her comment on them.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, McSally supported President Trump's response. She also called for the head of the World Health Organization to step down.
What are Martha McSally's Political Views?
When she was in the House of Representatives, McSally was seen as a moderate Republican. Her views on some key issues are listed below.
- Taxes: She voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a major tax-cut bill.
- Healthcare: McSally supported repealing the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). She voted for a Republican plan to replace it.
- Immigration: She has had different positions on immigration over time. She once supported a path to citizenship for people brought to the U.S. as children, known as "DREAMers." Later, she supported more conservative immigration policies.
- Environment: McSally has supported some renewable energy projects, like a large solar power plant in Arizona.
- Military: As a veteran, she has been a strong supporter of increasing spending for the military. She fought to keep the A-10 "Warthog" airplane, which is important to the air force base near Tucson.
- Marriage: McSally has said she believes marriage is between one man and one woman and that states should decide the issue.
Personal Life
McSally was briefly married in the late 1990s. She is a triathlete, which means she competes in swimming, biking, and running events. She has a rescue dog, a Golden Retriever named Boomer, who often appears with her at events.
See also
In Spanish: Martha McSally para niños
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
- Women in the United States Senate
