Tammie Jo Shults facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tammie Jo Shults
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Shults with a VAQ-34 F/A-18 Hornet in 1992
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| Born |
Tammie Jo Bonnell
November 2, 1961 Tularosa, New Mexico, U.S.
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| Alma mater | MidAmerica Nazarene University (BSc) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1985–2001 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant commander |
| Awards | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal |
| Other work | Commercial airline Boeing 737 pilot |
Tammie Jo Shults (born November 2, 1961) is an American pilot and author. She used to be a pilot for a commercial airline. Before that, she was one of the first women to fly fighter jets in the United States Navy. After leaving the Navy, she became a pilot for Southwest Airlines. She retired from flying in 2020.
On April 17, 2018, Captain Shults was flying Southwest Airlines Flight 1380. She safely landed the Boeing 737-700 after one of its engines broke apart. This caused damage to the plane and a sudden loss of air pressure inside.
Contents
Early Life and Dream to Fly
Tammie Jo Bonnell was born on November 2, 1961. She grew up on a ranch in New Mexico. From her home, she often watched jet planes flying from a nearby Air Force base. These planes, along with stories of a missionary pilot, made her dream of becoming a pilot herself.
When she was in high school, she looked into flying as a career. However, she was told that there were no professional women pilots. After high school, she went to MidAmerica Nazarene College. She earned degrees in biology and agribusiness in 1983. While there, she met a woman who had become a pilot for the Air Force. This inspired Tammie Jo to try applying to the Air Force, but they turned her down. She then decided to try the Navy while studying at Western New Mexico University.
The Navy accepted Tammie Jo for their Aviation Officer Candidate School. This is where future officers learn important skills. She finished the course and became an ensign in June 1985. Then, she went to flight training. She learned to fly the T-34 plane and earned her pilot's wings.
Flying and Teaching
After her training, Shults became a flight instructor. She taught others how to fly the T-2 Buckeye jet. Later, she qualified to fly the A-7 Corsair II. She then joined a special squadron that focused on electronic warfare.
In 1991, her squadron moved to a new base. There, she became an instructor under Captain Rosemary Mariner. Captain Mariner was the first woman to lead an operational air squadron. Shults then became one of the first female naval aviators to fly the F/A-18 Hornet. This is a very fast and powerful fighter jet.
Serving During Operation Desert Storm
During a conflict called Operation Desert Storm, women were not allowed to fly combat missions. So, Shults flew training missions instead. She acted as an "aggressor pilot," helping other Navy pilots practice their skills. She finished her time in this role in March 1993.
In December 1995, she was promoted to lieutenant commander. She then joined the Navy Reserve. In the Reserve, she continued to fly the F/A-18 Hornet and the EA-6B Prowler. She served in the Reserve until August 2001. Her awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and a National Defense Service Medal.
Civilian Career as an Airline Pilot
After leaving the Navy, Tammie Jo Shults joined Southwest Airlines. She became a pilot there, flying part-time. This allowed her to also raise her family after marrying Dean Shults, who was also a Navy pilot.
Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 Incident
On April 17, 2018, Captain Shults was the pilot of Southwest Airlines Flight 1380. The flight was going from New York to Dallas. During the flight, a fan blade on one of the Boeing 737's engines broke off. Pieces of the engine hit the side of the plane and broke a window. This caused the plane to lose air pressure very quickly.
One passenger was partly pulled out of the broken window. Sadly, she later passed away at the hospital. Captain Shults quickly made an emergency descent. She landed the plane safely in Philadelphia. Her calm actions and skill during this dangerous situation were praised by many. This included Southwest Airlines, passengers, and other experienced pilots like Chesley Sullenberger. Sullenberger famously landed a plane on the Hudson River in 2009.
Shults later shared that she was not originally supposed to fly that particular flight. She had swapped shifts with her husband. In December 2020, Tammie Jo Shults was honored. She was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
In 1994, Tammie Jo married Dean Shults. He was also a Navy pilot and later joined Southwest Airlines. They have two children together. The family lives in Boerne, Texas. Tammie Jo Shults is a Christian. She teaches Sunday school and helps people in need.
Shults wrote a book about the Flight 1380 incident. It is called Nerves of Steel and was released in October 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Tammie Jo Shults para niños
- Sully Sullenberger, another pilot who safely landed a plane in an emergency.
