Nicole Malachowski Nicole Margaret Ellingwood Malachowski ( born September 26 , 1974 ) is a United States Air Force officer and the first female pilot selected to fly as part of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron , better known as the Thunderbirds . Her aviator call sign is " FiFi " . Her first public performance was in March 2006 and she spent the 2006 and 2007 air show seasons flying the Number 3 ( Right Wing ) aircraft in the diamond formation . Prior to attending the U . S . Air Force Academy and joining the USAF , Lieutenant Colonel Malachowski was a Civil Air Patrol Cadet . Between September 1 , 2008 and August 31 , 2009 , Malachowski was on special assignment , participating in the White House Fellows Program for the Class of 2008 – 2009 , assigned to the General Services Administration . Early years , education , and personal biography . Nicole Malachowski was born Nicole Ellingwood in Santa Maria , California , to Cathy and Robert Ellingwood . In high school , she was a cadet member of the Nevada Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and participated in AFJROTC , where she was rated cadet colonel , the highest rank a cadet could achieve . She started working on her pilot ' s license before graduating from high school . She graduated from Western High School in Las Vegas in 1992 . She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management , with a minor in French , from the United States Air Force Academy , graduating 124th of 922 in the Class of 1996 . While at the academy she was both a pilot and cadet instructor pilot in the academy ' s TG - 4 glider program . She also earned a Master of Arts degree from American Military University in National Security Policy . Malachowski is married to Lieutenant Colonel Paul G . Malachowski , an F - 15E Weapons System Operator . The couple met while both were serving as aircrew in the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom . In April 2010 she was admitted to the Mother and Infant Care Center ( MICC ) of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda , Maryland , in expectation of the birth of twins . After a confinement of nine weeks , she gave birth to daughter Norah and son Garrick on June 6 , 2010 . Professional career . Malachowski attended undergraduate pilot training at Columbus AFB , Mississippi . She finished fourth in her class and selected the only F - 15E Strike Eagle slot allotted to her class . After meeting height requirements for fighter pilots , she trained at Seymour Johnson AFB , North Carolina , with the 4th Fighter Wing . She served two operational tours at RAF Lakenheath , England , with the 48th Fighter Wing ; assignment to the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB ; and as an Air Liaison Officer supporting the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Red Cloud , South Korea . During her second tour at RAF Lakenheath , Malachowski deployed for four months in early 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom , flying 26 combat missions . She applied and was accepted as a Thunderbird pilot in June 2005 . She completed transition training to the F - 16 Fighting Falcon with the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base , Arizona and flew with the Thunderbird Team based at Nellis AFB , Nevada in November 2005 until November 2007 . After successfully completing her tour with the USAF Thunderbirds in November 2007 , including approximately 140 performances , Malachowski served on staff of the Commander , United States Air Force Warfare Center , at Nellis Air Force Base , Nevada , to June 2008 . Malachowski was selected to participate as a White House Fellow in Washington , D . C . , from September 1 , 2008 to August 31 , 2009 , working in the General Services Administration with the Presidential Transition Support Team and as deputy chief of staff . Malachowski has been an advocate of recognition as veterans of women pilots who served during World War II . On July 1 , 2009 , she participated in a White House ceremony at which legislation ( S . 614 ) awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to former pilots of the Women Airforce Service Pilots ( WASP ) was signed into law by President Barack Obama . Although she had to use a wheelchair due to a broken left leg , Lt Col Malachowski delivered remarks during the ceremony held March 10 , 2010 , in the United States Capitol awarding Deanie Bishop Parrish the medal on behalf of all 1 , 102 WASP pilots . Malachowski served as deputy commander of the 4th Operations Support Squadron , 4th Operations Group , until November 18 , 2011 , when she took command of the 333d Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base , North Carolina . Awards and decorations . Nicole Malachowski ' s ribbons as of August 1 , 2009 :