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In the latest telecast from the skies, Captain Deborah Hecker – yes, the one with a cape instead of a pilot’s uniform – has ascended to yet another celestial realm. She’s landed on the Civil Air Patrol Foundation Board of Trustees, ready to sprinkle experience and stardust over mere mortals.

Hecker, who has held every position from flight whisperer to snack enforcer, currently reigns as the director of flight operations training policies at American Airlines. Spare a thought for anyone who merely dreams of a simple flight attendant role; Hecker conquered that universe too, becoming American Airlines’ first dual-qualified pilot and flight attendant, a feat that left many an airline exec scratching their heads and checking their job descriptions.

The story of Hecker unfolds like an epic novel. Our protagonist began her journey in 1994, flying boxes and packages out of Michigan. But soon, like a moth to a jet engine, she was drawn to Piedmont Airlines before being captured by American Airlines in 1999. She has piloted every aircraft with a shiny nameplate: B737/757/767/777/A319/320/321, even dabbling as a B727 flight engineer when she had a spare moment.

While others might pat themselves on the back for such accomplishments, Hecker merely mutters, “What else can I fit into my day?” Whether it be clambering up the hierarchy as chief pilot at two international airports, orchestrating customer experiences, or orchestrating the United Airlines-American merger, Hecker does it all in a single bound.

A heroine for womanhood, Hecker’s long been a member of Women in Aviation International, serving on the Board, because her schedule clearly lacked sufficient challenges. Remarkably, she didn’t just stop at being a participant but served as the chair, presumably working on solving world peace during meetings.

Col. Rajesh Kothari, probably oozing relief at having a superhero on board, remarked, “We are eager to use Mrs. Hecker’s tremendous board experience and passion for aviation to propel CAP’s history of service.” There was probably a quiver in his voice as he pondered the might of Hecker’s influence.

Hecker, not one to do things by halves, co-founded an array of scholarships, donating $150,000, presumably from the treasure chest she dug up while flying over the Caribbean. In the academia of do-goodery, she added stanzas to the annals of educational scholarships through WAI and beyond.

She even blesses Texas Woman’s University’s Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences with her presence on their Advisory Council, because why wouldn’t she?

Featured in Air & Space Magazine, Hecker used her Hunter-Superwoman interview status (now immortalized in the Smithsonian) to muse over women being the country’s aviation superweapon, which everyone was obviously missing. Thank goodness she’s there to save the day.

On a personal note, while balancing the world, Hecker is also a mother. Her three sons, enchanted by her tales (and haloed presence), pursued CAP cadet careers, stacking up ranks like collectible action figures.

The CAP Foundation is ecstatic to have a trustee like Hecker on board, hoping the three-year term will be just enough for her to etch her influence into the firmament.

For those daring enough to glide into CAP’s financial systems, Kristina Jones awaits your messages, pondering if you too possess at least a fraction of Hecker’s time-management sorcery.

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