S.O.S. (Stories of Service) - Ordinary people who do extraordinary work
From the little league coach to the former addict helping those still struggling, hear from people from all walks of life how they show up as a vessel for service and drive for transformational change. Hosted by Theresa Carpenter, a 28-year active duty U.S. naval officer who found service was the path to unlocking trauma and unleashing your inner potential.
S.O.S. (Stories of Service) - Ordinary people who do extraordinary work
Breaking Barriers in the Skies with Lt Col (Ret.) Jessica Ruttenber - S.O.S. #166
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jessica Ruttenber, a trailblazing U.S. Air Force pilot who turned her “vertical challenges” into an incredible aviation career. With over 3,000 flight hours, Jessica soared as a Senior Pilot and became a fierce advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equality in the military and aviation industries.
We discuss her groundbreaking achievements, including:
• Advocating for the Department of Defense’s first maternity flight suit, meeting the unique needs of female pilots.
• Leading efforts to redesign Air Force aircraft standards, eliminating height restrictions that once excluded 44% of women from aviation roles.
• Championing the Equality for Military Mothers Amendment in the FY21NDAA, protecting 200,000 Armed Forces members from pregnancy-related discrimination.
Now retired, Jessica shares how her passion for breaking barriers continues as director of Level Up Aviation, where she creates opportunities for underserved communities and pushes for a more inclusive aviation industry.
This is an episode about resilience, advocacy, and the power of change—don’t miss it!
Connect with Us:
• Follow the S.O.S. podcast for more stories of extraordinary leaders.
• Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!
Level Up Aviation: https://www.levelupaviation.org/get-started
Follow Jessica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaruttenber?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
***Apologies for the sound -- learning lesson!***
Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/
Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com
Watch episodes of my podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76