Retired Col. Paula Gould

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Andrea Salazar | Retired Col. Paula Gould commissioned the in Air Force in November of 1976 and became a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot. During the time in the Air Force, she served with the Arizona and Ohio Air National Guard. When she joined, becoming a pilot was one of the few jobs open to women. As Gould was training to become a pilot, she met a lot of resistance from her fellow peers and officers because there were few female pilots in the Air Force.  

UNITED STATES

11.05.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Andrea Salazar 

1st Combat Camera Squadron         

By Staff Sergeant Andrea Salazar, 1st Combat Camera, Joint Base Charleston

Retired Col. Paula Gould commissioned the in Air Force in November of 1976 and became a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot. During the time in the Air Force, she served with the Arizona and Ohio Air National Guard. When she joined, becoming a pilot was one of the few jobs open to women.

“A lot of career fields are now open to women,” said Gould. “I do feel that I was a part of establishing that history mark because the women pilots at that time were motivated, wanted to do well and succeed.”

As Gould was training to become a pilot, she met a lot of resistance from her fellow peers and officers because there were few female pilots in the Air Force. “We wanted to succeed, because we knew that we were setting the path for those that would come after us,” said Gould.

She credits her father for giving her the courage and confidence to know that she had the talent to become a pilot. Gould retired in December of 2006. Upon retirement, Gould became a school liaison officer at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Gould now resides in Colorado Springs, Colo., with her husband, retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould.

• Date Taken: 11.05.2015
• Date Posted: 11.05.2015 23:18
• Story ID: 181120
• Location: US