Heather PenneySpeaker and Booking Agent Information

Heather Penney is a retired U.S. Air Force major, defense policy expert, and one of the first female fighter pilots, best known for her actions on September 11th. As a first lieutenant with the District of Columbia Air National Guard’s 121st Fighter Squadron, she and her commander scrambled in unarmed F-16s from Andrews Air Force Base with orders to down United Airlines Flight 93 if necessary to protect Washington, D.C. The passengers’ revolt caused the plane to crash in Pennsylvania before interception. Penney later flew combat missions in Iraq, including as a SCUD hunter, and served until 2016, retiring as a major. A Purdue University graduate, she worked at Lockheed Martin before becoming Director of Studies and Research at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, where she focuses on airpower, defense technology, and policy. Penney is a highly sought-after speaker, aviation advocate, and private pilot.