Recognizing the unparalleled efforts of women in the field of aerospace and aviation, Col. Abigail Ruscetta has recently been honored with the title of 2024 Oklahoma Aerospace and Aviation's Woman of the Year. The recognition took place at the eighth annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day, celebrated with due respect and fanfare on Friday last week at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, as reported by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, and Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, ceremoniously lauded the Colonel for her stellar achievements and contributions to the sector. Holding the reins as the 72nd Air Base Wing Commander at Tinker Air Force Base, Col. Ruscetta leads with command of nearly 3,000 Airmen and responsibilities extending to a monumental $5.4 billion in resources and a sizable $311 million operating budget. "Her remarkable career and dedication to advancing aerospace and aviation are an inspiration to women across our state and beyond. I’m glad to see her recognized as Oklahoma Aerospace and Aviation's Woman of the Year and celebrate her many contributions to both Oklahoma and our nation," Miller said, in a statement obtained by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
With a career inaugurated in 1997 through the U.S. Air Force Academy, Ruscetta's trajectory has been consistently upward and includes an impressive educational background with a master’s degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Her tenure at Tinker AFB, which started in 2018, comprises a series of distinguished roles served with distinction in various locations including, Germany, Korea, and stateside in Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Utah, and Washington, D.C. Among the accolades she has earned are the Legion of Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
The decision to honor Col. Ruscetta aligns with Oklahoma's tradition of recognizing women in aviation and aerospace, established by the state legislature in 2017. The day, held on Monday, marks the birth of Pearl Carter Scott, the nation's youngest pilot at age 13. "Colonel Abigail Ruscetta’s leadership at Tinker Air Force Base stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence, both in military service and in shaping the future of aerospace and aviation in our state and nation," said Stanley, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Oklahoma continues to honor trailblazing aviators like Scott, and with Col. Ruscetta’s recent recognition, the state connects past inspiration with its ongoing commitment to leadership and technological progress in aviation and aerospace.
