Steele Chapter Inspires High School Girls to Pursue Aviation Careers

October 28, 2026   |   By Bob Hill

More than 200 high school girls from Northern Virginia received a special glimpse into careers in military and commercial aviation, thanks to support from AFA’s D.W. Steele Sr. Chapter at the Girls in Aviation Expo. The inspiring event on Oct. 14 brought together representatives from aviation and aerospace companies, the Civil Air Patrol, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Steele Chapter.

The expo was sponsored by Women in Aviation International and held at Reagan National Airport, where the participants toured a regional jet and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter inside the hangar.

Tony Frazier, the Steele Chapter’s vice president for aerospace education, coordinated the chapter’s participation, bringing together three accomplished Active-duty Air Force officers: Col. Manaal “Pipper” Burge, an F-15E weapon systems officer assigned to the Pentagon; Col. Carol “Drone” Kohtz, an F-16 pilot assigned to the Pentagon; and Col. Karolyn Teufel, a flight surgeon serving as the air surgeon for the District of Columbia Air National Guard.

Throughout the morning, the officers engaged with enthusiastic students, answering questions about military service, flying fighter aircraft, and pursuing aviation careers. A highlight for the girls was a panel where the officers shared their personal journeys, professional experiences, and lessons learned.

Col. Carol “Drone” Kohtz, an F-16 pilot assigned to the Pentagon, shares her journey to becoming an Air Force pilot during a panel discussion at the Girls in Aviation Expo.

One student, after hearing Kohtz’s journey to becoming an Air Force pilot, enthusiastically declared, “That is what I want to do!”

“Many of the girls arrived interested in becoming pilots, but we had the opportunity to expand their horizons by introducing them to the many careers that make aviation possible—from aircraft maintenance, fuels, and air traffic control to communications, information technology, software systems, and medical support,” said Teufel. “It was especially encouraging to see the young women and their parents asking thoughtful questions about military service and the educational benefits available to help them pursue their dreams.”

The Steele Chapter remains committed to inspiring and mentoring young people, helping them discover opportunities to become tomorrow’s aviation, Air Force, and Space Force leaders.