She received her Bachelors Degree in Aeronautical Science from Middle Tennessee State University and her Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She has over 5000 total flight hours with 15 years of civilian flying experience including flight instruction, cargo flight operations in the DC-3, commuter flight operations in the DHC-6 Twin Otter on Floats and Wheels, corporate flight operations in Learjets, and airline flight operations in the DC-10.