Thunderbird. Trailblazer. Survivor.- Nicole Malachowski cover art

Thunderbird. Trailblazer. Survivor.- Nicole Malachowski

Thunderbird. Trailblazer. Survivor.- Nicole Malachowski

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 In this powerful episode of Women of War, we sit down with Colonel Nicole Malachowski—the first female pilot to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. From flying combat missions in the F-15E Strike Eagle to breaking sound barriers and gender ceilings, Nicole's story is one of relentless ambition and historic achievement. But what happens when a warrior's career is cut short by an invisible enemy? Nicole opens up about the devastating tick-borne illness that ended her Air Force career, and how she found purpose again as a patient advocate and national speaker. Her resilience in the face of physical, emotional, and professional trials is both gut-wrenching and inspiring. This is more than a story of flight—it's a story of identity, reinvention, and the courage it takes to keep soaring after the fall.
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