Wendy Woodard and Scott Woodard

00:00 All right. My name is Wendy Woodard. I am 44 today is March 10th 2020. We are in Las Cruces, New Mexico and New Mexico State University. My interview partner is my husband Scott Woodard Las Cruces, New Mexico State University.

00:28 I'm here to talk with Wendy today about storycorps military voices you pass. Okay. Well, let's start off with tell me a little bit about the the basis that you've served at locations. I

00:55 It started at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. I guess that's serving after that. I went to Vance air force base in Enid, Oklahoma for pilot training.

01:09 After pilot training I went to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana to fly the B-52 and then went to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey to fly the kc-10. I did a decent amount of time overseas during that assignment following that I got to go back to the Air Force Academy as an officer and teach and when I go then Robins Air Force Base in Georgia where I met you, and then we went to San Antonio to Randolph Air Force Base and now we are here in New Mexico and New Mexico state. I'm lucky. I think I got them all.

02:01 Tell me a little bit about maybe some challenges that you think you might have faced along the way.

02:07 Challenges not necessarily just physical challenges. Do you think that you were?

02:13 As a as a youth growing up as a as a Cadet at the Academy.

02:20 Post with some challenges that you think you faced unique to you.

02:26 Oh you Nique to me. I don't know if there's anything that's unique to me but growing up challenges.

02:36 Well growing up in Los Alamos small town Northern New Mexico. I think at the time we all thought it was a challenge to find fun things to do but didn't involve.

02:51 Getting in trouble with the police, but in all honesty there was plenty of fun things to do. We just were looking for fun or things I think.

03:03 At the Academy. Yeah challenges of things.

03:12 Let's just say I can demyx had not come that difficult lie for me in high school. There wasn't anything that I came across that I didn't.

03:23 Sexy. Wasn't able to do I learned it all but I got to the academy and hit my first engineering class and no matter how much studying or Preparation or time extra time spent with a teacher. I to the state still do not know what a load-bearing portion of a bridges for why that's important. Really. I mean, I guess it is if you're going over the bridge but I discovered things that I was not good at. So perhaps that with some humility there or I just switch my major to something that I was good at.

04:12 I would say that pilot training was probably the most challenging year of my life. Definitely found something. I wasn't Cadet and that was learning how to fly it was the most confidence destroying year of my life and it took a lot of time after that to build myself back up, I think.

04:43 Yeah. Shall I keep talking about challenges.

04:55 I don't think that my problems my issues. My challenges were due to being a woman.

05:02 I think that it was just due to my skill level.

05:08 I did. I don't know if this is something that you're going to ask about but I did have one person in my well 23 years of active-duty tell me that I didn't belong in the cockpit.

05:27 I did have one person say that and I was so mad because no one had said it and then this guy ruined it for everybody else by saying it.

05:38 So

05:40 That's the only time I felt like someone has not thought I belonged because I was a woman.

05:49 Okay.

05:52 So obviously that has you upset you because nobody had said it it made me mad. Yes, because it was I don't know 1998 or 1999. What are you doing still talking like this and that this guy felt like I didn't belong because I couldn't not that I couldn't I refused to lift a super heavy bag from the ground directly up over my head in to the bottom of the B-52 and I am not the only person who had refused to lift those heavy bags. There were plenty of guys who would hurt their backs

06:49 And I decided not to lift but this guy watched me did not help me watched me lift the bags into the base of the plane.

07:04 And just kind of waited for me to not to fail no help whatsoever. Just waited and watched for me to fail and then when I didn't lift the bag he had determined that I didn't belong.

07:20 Mostly because his thought process was if the plane was on fire he needed to rely on me to pull him out. And since I didn't lift the bag he didn't think I could pull him out of the burning plain.

07:40 Stop. Yes.

07:43 It motivated me to be the best that I could to prove that I did belong where I was.

07:51 You're welcome positive. Well throw that in there now. I mean, I told him he'll have extra adrenaline to worry about it.

08:10 Play the oxygen mask in the passenger plane you put yours on first.

08:21 So tell me what was your earliest memory were you realized that you wanted to be?

08:32 In the Air Force in the in the military as a pilot.

08:38 So, I don't know if I can pinpoint exactly a memory. I think that I was looking up in the sky and saw a plane flying and I think I was kind of in the age where you see something. That's cool. And you think that's what you want to do when you grow up.

08:58 I think it was about the fourth grade and prior to that. We had lived next door to some people who had a picture of the Dallas Cowboys team with cheerleaders in front, and they had the most excellent uniforms. And so that's kind of where I was prior to seeing that plane that I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. I don't know. I'm pretty sure every girl at some point wants to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

09:34 And so I was Sino torn between Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader or Pilot.

09:44 And I have a feeling now that I'm a parent. I have a feeling that my parents did each other and thought we could encourage one of these and I think I know which one it should be Cowboys fight. They were wishing. I let them down know. Yeah, it's so I think that they kind of grabbed onto that and said, hey, here's how you become a pilot. He go to the Air Force Academy you go to Pilot training and so at that point I decided that's what I was going to do. And I was the kind of kid who once I set a goal everything was towards that so yeah.

10:31 Made it happen. So you say your parents were influential in pushing you towards but are are there what are some other people in your life that you have found influential or

10:49 I don't want an answer to say Heroes but people that you may have looked up to admired.

10:56 Yeah, that's a good one. I had a teacher in high school who was very encouraging to me Nancy Sheikh. She mishak, she taught several of our AP History classes and

11:19 She was very smart. We used to play Trivial Pursuit with the entire class against her and I remember one time we won and we were so excited. But yeah, she I think she just encouraged me not that my parents hadn't but she encouraged me that I had talent that I had intellect and again not that my parents weren't saying that they were but it was nice to hear it from somebody who wasn't related to you.

11:59 I've had some people that I've flown with who I highly respect for their skill, their people skills not to find skills their Charisma their leadership.

12:19 I think that if you say hero that throws me, I don't know if I can say one people that maybe you have had some admiration for or has helped motivate you yeah, not as early as a pilot has a

12:34 Personal leader instructor as a

12:38 As a good human being yeah.

12:44 Cuz you're not just a pilot.

12:50 Percival human beings of love and compassion in your heart. Thank you. I have some super strong friends that I met at the Academy and I think that they are.

13:05 Strong women with strength and various areas that I take

13:12 Them as great role models.

13:15 I've had some ladies who are you know, just a few years older than I am but along my career path mother's Pilots officers who I I have been lucky to be able to see how they handle all of the responsibilities.

13:36 So I have had those people in my life, which I'm very lucky.

13:45 So how would you compare?

13:50 The Air Force or the military as a whole now as it was when you first entered.

13:58 Coming out of the academy. Yeah.

14:03 It's funny to say this but there are a lot more women. I look around and I'm I'm encouraged and again, that's not what I'm looking for. I'm not looking to see I'm not counting heads, but it's cool to see more women coming out more women in the military at self taking leadership roles. I think that we have changed to a focus of a lot more.

14:33 Inclusion and wanting our Force to look like the people we defend and I think that's really important. That's obviously decisions above my paygrade.

14:47 But I do think we've made appropriate changes with respect to

14:55 Perhaps some things that used to be around squadrons hanging on the walls or things that were said that probably are not too probably are not appropriate and we were hanging on to those things because it was history. It was part of our heritage and fortunately I think we've had some leadership who has said that's not the kind of Heritage we need to hang on. So take it down cover it up change it and my follow-up question was going to be the progression of females in the in the Air Force and Military has a hole. So thank you for

15:41 Effectively answering to question. Where do you see the future of military future of Aviation? A lot of unmanned aircraft. We're no longer be pilots in the sky. The pilot is really well. We like to say that we are the most important part of the aircraft because we can make split-second decisions that perhaps may I have some sort couldn't make but we're also the limitation because we can't pull as many geez or as an unmanned aircraft could and so yeah, I do see I think that

16:35 In our lifetimes probably I think so that there won't be by lights in the sky anymore.

16:43 Combat, I think I don't think passenger planes will I don't know if I would get on a plane with your opinion on space force.

16:59 I thought I'd throw that in there for comedy.

17:03 So what is a message maybe that you would have for young ladies may be considering this path? Maybe a message to your younger self?

17:19 What what do you think you would tell and obviously you speak to young ladies on a regular basis right now. We're interested in this. So what is your pitch? I guess. Well, I think one of the best things about the military is that I don't have to fight for equal pay, you know, you hear the statistics that women earn whatever it is 8088 cents on the dollar that men earn and I have never had to negotiate a salary. I know that I get paid exactly the same thing as my male counterparts there the opportunities for progression are

18:08 I would like to say Unlimited.

18:11 That you will be challenged.

18:16 In ways that you wouldn't be outside and obviously if you're outside the challenges would be different. So I think but there are some very unique military challenges.

18:28 I would say that there are.

18:31 Work-life or deployment life challenges for the family that maybe you wouldn't have with a regular job. Although some people have a job that requires a lot of travel. So I'm sure that they are facing those same issues as well.

18:48 I would I would say that there is.

18:54 Room to grow and make mistakes. That is what I would tell myself is that you no one expects you to know how to do everything perfectly, but they expect you to learn from your mistakes.

19:14 But it's okay to make mistakes. And that's something that I really struggled with. I think that was a big portion of my pilot training struggle is that I didn't think it was okay to make mistakes too hard on yourself. Yes. Yes.

19:34 OK Google

19:53 Remove unnecessary. Hey, thank you.

20:09 So

20:12 Reflect on your career as a whole right now.

20:20 Obviously you are happy.

20:24 Are there points along the way will you feel?

20:28 Do you live life any regrets?

20:32 Okay, I'm so yes. I am happy I am happy that I've taken the path that I have. I took a little detour for a couple of years and got my esthetician certificate and I worked in the salon for a couple of years and it was kind of an effort to figure out if what was truly my personality and what was

21:05 Something I was used to because I've been in the military.

21:09 And so through that I discovered it really was my personality to try new things and push for changes and try and keep climb the ladder. I guess. It's not the right term, but I keep improving myself trying new things.

21:28 And so having the ability to kind of take that detour and figure out where I should be was really valuable to being happy with what I was what I came back to.

21:42 So do I have any regrets? I've told you my regret my my regret is not joining the field hockey team in high school when we moved to Maryland and that's if that's what a lifetime of regret is then I'm pretty okay with that.

22:03 Well, I mean at some point I could try and get that uniform and that would eliminate any regret that I have their Justin Boots, really.

22:16 So

22:17 When you look back on this.

22:20 As an outsider or someone who is unfamiliar.

22:24 How do you how would you?

22:27 Describe this whole life experience.

22:32 Will say like James May and a haiku.

22:39 I have no practice with IQ.

22:43 How would I describe the experience? I think it has been just going from growth to growth to growth with meeting people who lead you down a road who hold your hand if they need to or get behind you and push you.

23:09 But it has allowed me to.

23:14 Be myself, I think which is

23:19 Nice, right, right, right. Yeah. I don't know if I can come to that with a really big question. I don't know that encompassed it but yeah.

23:31 So even though places

23:35 My place is look the same Air Force bases are very similar usually.

23:44 Each each one is different. Each step is different. Correct mean.

23:51 Robbins is not San Antonio.

24:02 Technically similar is vastly different sure each job that you do is different each place that you visit.

24:12 Kind of molds you in a different way. Yeah. I think that there were there were jobs that I didn't love, you know, I was in a job. I was on a job. I didn't love when I met you and then you still love me.

24:38 Yeah, it's it's been a a journey with bumps and twists and turns and sometimes straightaways.

24:48 But climbs and descents and the whole thing.

24:54 And

24:55 You tapped into that journey of motherhood long the way how did that affect your

25:04 Work

25:05 Obviously, oh, yeah an extra bit of worry anxiety stress one of joy and some happiness. Yeah.

25:19 Well when you and I met I did not want to have kids and even when you said you would like to have kids I told you I didn't want to have kids and

25:34 My heart got changed. And so yeah, I can't imagine not having Daniel at this point. He is a joy and a frustration but a joy, you know, you can this little person is growing and learning and changing right before your eyes. It's amazing and there's a little bit of you when there's a little bit of me in there and that's super cool.

26:02 And we need to be part of that we get to determine. Determine we get to

26:08 Influence what he's going to be maybe I hope I hope that we are having an impact on what he's going to be. What kind of person yeah mean.

26:23 There are times when I see somebody doing a job that I think Josh that would be so cool. It would be a huge adventure to be.

26:36 I don't know in Africa helping with ebola response.

26:42 And having an impact on people's lives. Okay, that wood is not where my expertise lies, but then I think oh, I have a family and I can't just do these things. So yeah, it is one of my friends called at the golden handcuffs, you know that I am amazingly blessed to have you and Daniel, but I can't Trot off to Africa and work with a bull response Sorry probably a bad idea.

27:17 Yeah.

27:19 Being a mother is far more.

27:26 Amazing. What's the right word?

27:29 Life-changing than I ever thought it would be. Thank you for convincing me now that you are.

27:44 Caregiver of a that's a great question yet because now I have to look at other people and think I do they have a mom and a dad and this could be my child and I how would I want somebody to treat my child?

28:01 Yeah, I think I'm props a bit more compassionate now, but I also get more frustrated when I'm saying the same thing that I say to my four-year-old to grown-ups. Why am I having to say these things to you? But yet I do think it's changed me. I'm not quite as rough. I don't know.

28:32 I love you. Yeah.

28:36 So you enjoy working with?

28:40 Younger Generations trying to mold them the shape of yourself. No, not into the shape of my score if I have no. Yeah. I I spent eight and a half years at the Academy working with Cadets there and then I've been here for coming up on two years working with ROTC students. And yes, I feel like they are almost adults and I get to have one last little

29:18 Pressure molding into the kind of person that I would hope that they would be and I think that they are often trying to figure out where the lines are.

29:31 Of what they can say and what they can do and I like being the person who helps them figure out where those lines are like for it. Yes.

29:47 Homemade more expensively

29:53 So I know you are now officially a colonel select. Where do you see yourself in 5 years I think will be retired in 5 years.

30:09 Yeah, I think I think my expectation is we'll do what we need to do in order to get that Colonels retirement and then you and I will figure out what the rest of our lives holds.

30:27 Jet skis maybe maybe they're in the picture. I don't know.

30:32 But I think that you and I will figure that out. Where do you see us in 5 years? I have no idea honestly.

30:47 But wherever it is, I think we will make the best of it.

30:53 Even if it's back in places where we're not.

30:58 The happiest being

31:01 I think that wherever it is.

31:05 We'll be there together and we'll make the most of it.

31:11 Is there anything else you'd like to add to this for the future Generations?

31:18 No, I'd like to thank you for sitting down with me today Wendy. Thank you for a wonderful guest conversationalist if you talk about yourself a lot, but that's okay. I did I did I'm sorry.

31:35 Just like any other time.