In the early morning hours of September 11, 2001, was cramming for a summer school final school at UC Irvine.
I was up early, getting ready to go to campus for first year orientation.
Then, the first plane hit the tower.
Along with so many around the world, the events of September 11th changed our lives inalterably. Both Cathyrine and I felt the call to serve our country in this time of dire need – but in diametrically different ways.
Already a member of ROTC, Cathyrine decided to raise her right hand and swear an oath to defend the Constitution in the Air Force, where she would eventually fly more than 110 combat missions over Afghanistan as an F-15E Weapons Systems Officer.
On the other side of the spectrum, I dedicated myself to the peace movement, helping to organize teach-ins, sit-ins, die-ins, and protests that made UC Irvine the most politically active campus in California – and by extension, the country.
We didn’t know each other then, but in many ways, we were deeply involved in each other’s lives.
Fast forward 20 years. A chance connection on LinkedIn brought us together.
This is our conversation about that day, our politically charged time at UC Irvine, and how our mutual call to service still keeps us dedicated to the cause of democracy at a time when our country faces its greatest crisis yet.
is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who logged over 1,600 flight hours in Afghanistan as a Weapon Systems Officer on an F-15E Strike Eagle. She is also is a former Political Military Strategist serving as the Chief of International Agreements in the United Kingdom and commanded at multiple levels.
Today, Cathyrine is the Founder and CEO of , a consulting firm developing branding strategies and PR services for her clients, and the host of the podcast.
To hear more, visit https://thefemalebodypolitic.substack.com/p/from-911-to-service-to-country