Major Kara L. Sandifur

Major Kara L. Sandifur is an 18-year veteran of Women in Aviation, International, attending her first conference in 1992 while attending in college at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, IL. She attributes, at least in part, her career progression to the mentorship she received through WAI. In 1994, she graduated from SIUC with a bachelor's degree in Aviation Management as well as her CFI and Commercial licenses with Multi-engine and Instrument ratings. She joined the United States Air Force Reserve in 1995, earning her commission in 1996, and completed Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1998. With over 3500 hours, she has been an Instructor Aircraft Commander in the C-141 and is currently flying the KC-135 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Kara is an Air Reserve Technician for the 459th Air Refueling Wing, working as a mission coordinator and flight dispatcher. She is active in community outreach, speaking to high school and college students about flight careers and life in the Air Force. She is a team member of Andrews AFB Pilot for a Day program, which sponsors terminally-ill children as guests of the base, offering a 'day in the life of a pilot'.

For the past five years, she has served as a liaison between WAI and the Air Force Reserve. She has been instrumental in coordinating and presenting numerous educational sessions during WAI's annual conference. She helped usher in the Memorandum of Understanding between WAI and the Air Force Reserve which continues to foster the working relationship between WAI and USAFR. Kara enjoys reading, movies and world travel. She is single and resides in Odenton, MD.