She qualified as a helicopter pilot in 1994 and flew Puma helicopters in the Bosnian War in 1995 and in Northern Ireland in 1997. She then qualified as the first female helicopter instructor in the British Armed Forces in 1998. She was promoted squadron leader on 1 July 2000 and later that year became the first female commander of a flying unit. On 1 July 2006, she was promoted wing commander, and in 2008 took command of No. 202 Squadron RAF, flying Westland Sea King helicopters in the search and rescue role.