Ivilliage website, A USAF F-16 pilot received the Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government. Captain Christina Hopper, a USAF F-16 fighter pilot would be the first to tell you she was just doing her job, and got to be a pilot through plain hard work and determination. ">
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F-16 pilot wins $25,000 for doing her job

June 2, 2004 (by Eric L. Palmer) - According to the Ivilliage website, A USAF F-16 pilot received the Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government. Captain Christina Hopper, a USAF F-16 fighter pilot would be the first to tell you she was just doing her job, and got to be a pilot through plain hard work and determination.
Quoting the story, it has what some may consider a condescending tone: Though as Capt. Lory Manning, a retired Navy officer who directs the Women in the Military Project, points out, "It must have been harder for her, being both African American and female, to become one of the gang -- but she clearly has the right mix of modesty and guts.". Fact of the matter is that women have been doing great things in the USAF for a long time.

The story is interesting and is an excellent F-16 topic. Those of us knowledgeable on military aviation would tip our hat to Captain Hopper just for making the grade to fly an F-16 in combat. Her Vice-Wing Commander Col. Jeff Stambaugh probably sums it up better: "She's an all-around exceptional individual."