News United States Air Force
 New AF pregnant aircrew policy means new achievement for B-1 pilot, othersPublished Feb. 1, 2023
                        
                        By Senior Airman Leon Redfern
                        
                        
                        7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
                **DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --**
                As Maj. Lauren Olme, 77th Weapons Squadron assistant director of operations, fires up the engines of a **B-1 Lancer** on **Dyess Air Force Base**, she is living out her lifelong dream of being a pilot. In addition to that dream, she achieved a new feat that will impact future generations of servicewomen: Flying while pregnant.

Lauren garnered her passion for flying by watching her father fly as a pilot in the Air Force.

“My dad flew (**F-15C Eagles**), so I instantly fell in love with flying and the Air Force culture at a pretty young age,” Lauren said. “There was never really a time that I officially decided I wanted to join the Air Force, it was just something I always wanted to do.”U.S. Air Force Maj. Lauren Olme, 77th Weapons Squadron assistant director of operations, and her husband, Maj. Mark Olme, 7th Operations Support Squadron bomb wing weapons officer, pose with an ultrasound photo of their child at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 24, 2023. Lauren, who is currently pregnant, can continue flying after recently getting approved under the Air Force’s new guidance which allows female aircrew members to voluntarily request to fly during pregnancy. No waiver is required to fly in the second trimester with an uncomplicated pregnancy in a non-ejection seat aircraft if all flight safety criteria are met. All pregnant aircrew members are also authorized to apply for a waiver regardless of trimester, aircraft or flight profile. (Courtesy photo)Maj. Lauren Olme, 77th Weapons Squadron assistant director of operations, and her husband, Maj. Mark Olme, 7th Operations Support Squadron bomb wing weapons officer, pose with an ultrasound photo of their child at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 24, 2023. Lauren, who is currently pregnant, can continue flying after recently getting approved under the Air Force’s new guidance, which allows female aircrew members to voluntarily request to fly during pregnancy. (Courtesy photo)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    










**Air Force Academy**. They became fast friends and started dating in November of 2011, eventually getting married seven months after graduation.

“We were navigating being newlyweds while both going through **Undergraduate Pilot Training**,” Lauren said. “Both of our flight commanders were B-1 pilots, and the bomber community combined a lot of aspects that we both wanted out of flying. We were extremely fortunate to both get assigned the B-1 out of UPT and haven’t regretted it for a second!”

After completing training at Dyess AFB, the Olmes moved to **Ellsworth AFB**, South Dakota, and over the next few years journeyed to several assignments together. They deployed on a Bomber Task Force to **Andersen AFB**, Guam, multiple at **Nellis AFB**, Nevada, and a combat deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. In 2020 they completed the Air Force’s version of “Top Gun,” the **U.S. Air Force Weapons School course**.

“Lauren and I have been very blessed with the opportunity to be stationed together, deploy together and go on multiple month-long exercises together,” Mark said. “The aviation world is stressful enough, then add competing with your wife, who is better than you, for everything! However, we have got to share some special moments together because of it.”

In August 2022, Lauren and Mark found out they would be adding one more member to their family.

“I was honestly shocked when we found out I was pregnant,” Lauren said. “We had been trying for a few months and I somewhat expected another negative test. I tested right before work and after finding out it was positive, holding that secret from Mark all day was torture, but I wanted to tell him in person.”

Despite being pregnant, Lauren still longed to fly. Last year, a **new Air Force policy** stated aircrew members may voluntarily request to fly during pregnancy and no waiver is required to fly in the second trimester with an uncomplicated pregnancy in a non-ejection seat aircraft if all flight safety criteria are met. All pregnant aircrew members are also authorized to apply for a waiver regardless of trimester, aircraft or flight profile.

“I can’t overexpress how amazing it is that pregnant women now have the opportunity to fly in all types of aircraft,” Lauren said. “It’s a very personal decision that Mark and I made together because there are risks involved in flying the B-1 while pregnant but after conferring with Air Force and civilian medical doctors, we felt comfortable with me flying for a few weeks.”

Aircrew members who wish to fly while pregnant are informed of the risks to themselves, the fetus, the safety of flight, and mission, consistent with all medical conditions. The approval is granted through joint consent of the aviator, obstetrics provider, flight surgeon, and commander.

“This policy is a huge benefit to the Air Force. They have deliberately made a change that provides female aircrew members the same opportunities as male aircrew members,” said Lt. Col. Charles Armstrong, 77th WPS commander. “This allows female aviators to continue building up their qualifications and flight hours to progress in their career field through pregnancy. It was based on years of analysis and research from aircrew physiologists both in the Air Force and outside agencies to make the determination that it is safe and acceptable for women to fly a longer period than they have done in the past.”

This allows the member to weigh out the pros and cons, ultimately deciding for themselves whether they want to fly or not.U.S. Air Force Maj. Lauren Olme, 77th Weapons Squadron assistant director of operations, and her husband, Maj. Mark Olme, 7th Operations Support Squadron bomb wing weapons officer, pose for a photo next to a B-1B Lancer at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 24, 2023. Lauren, who is currently pregnant, can continue flying after recently getting approved under the Air Force’s new guidance which allows female aircrew members to voluntarily request to fly during pregnancy. No waiver is required to fly in the second trimester with an uncomplicated pregnancy in a non-ejection seat aircraft if all flight safety criteria are met. All pregnant aircrew members are also authorized to apply for a waiver regardless of trimester, aircraft or flight profile. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leon Redfern)Maj. Lauren Olme, 77th Weapons Squadron assistant director of operations, and her husband, Maj. Mark Olme, 7th Operations Support Squadron bomb wing weapons officer, pose next to a B-1B Lancer at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 24, 2023. Lauren, who is currently pregnant, can continue flying after recently getting approved under the Air Force’s new guidance, which allows female aircrew members to voluntarily request to fly during pregnancy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leon Redfern)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    









Baby Olme, who is expected to arrive in April 2023, has become one of the first babies in the **Defense Department** to clock 9.2 hours in a **supersonic aircraft**.

“Lauren is an amazing lady, deploying a unit, developing a schedule, creating exercise scenarios, being a great pilot and leader, all while building a human,” said Mark. “I am not sure how she does it all, and with poise and grace. I am extremely proud of her, and I can't wait to tell our child they got to fly supersonic in formation with mommy and daddy.”

Lauren expressed her excitement at being one of the first women to experience this new policy and shared her admiration for the aviation trailblazers before her.

“I’m honored to be one of the first to fly in an ejection seat aircraft while pregnant,” Lauren said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it if women in the Air Force didn’t advocate for these types of policy changes, so to live out a policy change that other women worked so hard to enact is truly an honor.”LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Air Force Global Strike Command 



AFGSC 



Dyess AFB 



pilot 



women 



diversity 



pregnancy 



B-1 Lancer