
Airman 1st Class Allison Lasher, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, marshals Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, as she prepares to take off for her first flight on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike Eagles, made history as the first female F-35 pilot in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)

Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, returns from her first F-35A training flight after landing on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike Eagles, made history as the first female F-35 pilot in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)

Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, reacts to the sight of her friends greeting her after completing her first training flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike Eagles, made history as the first female F-35 pilot in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)

Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, navigates her F-35A through the “bird bath” after returning from her first flight on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike Eagles, made history as the first female F-35 pilot in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)

Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, prepares to exit her F-35A after completing her first training flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike Eagles, made history as the first female F-35 pilot in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)

Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, prepares to take her first flight in the F-35A on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike Eagles, made history as the first female F-35 pilot in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)

Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, prepares to take her first flight in the F-35A on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike Eagles, made history as the first female F-35 pilot in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)