Our 2022 Wings Over Camarillo airshow is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the significant contribution of women to the aviation industry. Our series of articles continues to celebrate the trailblazing women who have inspired generations of women to take to the skies. Today we recognize two distinguished women in the aviation industry.
Martha Phillips and Commander Colette Lazenka have each blazed trails and significantly impacted the aviation industry. We are incredibly proud to have these two distinguished aviators lead our upcoming airshow as Grand Marshals.
Martha Phillips
Background
Martha Whitlock Phillips was born and raised in Cooper, Texas. For a young girl who grew up in a small town with no airport, flying was no more than a pipe dream. This dream was fueled even more by the stories she grew up listening to from her uncle, who flew Tactical Ballistic Missile (TBM) bombers across the Pacific during World War II.
Educational Beginnings
She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology at East Texas University. She went on to take graduate classes in education and computer science. Before moving to Dallas to work in sales and marketing for a word processing equipment company, she taught English classes in College Station, Texas.
Starting Aviation
Martha moved to Chatsworth, California, in 1977, where she met her husband-to-be, Art Phillips. Art had been flying for years, while Martha just secretly dreamed about it. Art encouraged her to spread her wings, and in 1979, Martha and Art purchased their Cessna Skyhawk “Bluebird.”
By then, Martha had already begun taking flight lessons at the local airport in Van Nuys, where she made her first solo flight in a Cessna 150. She also took flight training at the Camarillo and Santa Paula airports, which gave her experience with different runway lengths and traffic patterns at towered and non-towered airports. Martha earned her Private Pilot license in 1987. She participated in landing contests, flew cross-country, organized and attended several camping trips, and traveled to many remote aviation-related events.
Joining The Ninety-Nines
In 1996, Martha heard about The Ninety-Nines through a friend who was a member of the San Fernando chapter. She learned it was an international organization of female pilots with a mission to “promote the advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honoring our unique history and sharing our passion for flight.” She joined the Ventura County chapter of The Ninety-Nines (VC99s), comprised of women who flew out of the four local airports – Camarillo, Oxnard, Santa Paula, and Pt. Mugu.
Martha’s immense contribution to the VC99s saw her become the Chapter’s Secretary from 1997-1998, then Chapter Chairman from 1998-2000. Her significant contributions transcended the Ventura County chapter alone. She became the Southwest Section Treasurer from 2004-2006, the Section Governor from 2006-2008, and a member of the International Nominating Committee from 2008-2010. She was Co-Chairman of the 99s’ International Conference in Hawaii in 2010. That same year, she became the organization’s International Treasurer, from 2010-2012. Martha was elected The Ninety-Nines’ International President in 2012, becoming a member of the exclusive line of distinguished women to serve in this position. This line started with the legendary Amelia Earhart. Martha’s tenure as International President ended in 2016, and since then, she’s been a tremendous supporter of The Ninety-Nines and all women in aviation.
Commander Colette Lazenka
Background
Commander Colette Lazenka hails from Horsham, Pennsylvania. She grew up “attending the Willow Grove, PA airshow as a child, and that airshow is what began (her) interest in the military and aviation.”
Educational Beginnings
Commander Lazenka went to East Texas University, obtaining degrees in Sociology and Psychology. She graduated from the United States Naval academy in 2002, and after earning her Naval Flight Officer wings in December 2003, attended the Fleet Replacement Squadron training at Patrol Squadron Thirty (VP) 30. In October 2004, she reported to VP-46 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington, where she served as the command security manager, AWO division officer, and NFO training officer, completing numerous deployments supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. At the end of this tour, she was recognized as the CNAF Naval Flight Officer (NFO) of the year for 2007 due to her exceptional ASW (anti-submarine warfare) expertise.
Continuing Aviation
In June 2008, CDR Lazenka attended the United States Navel Test Pilot School (USNTPS), where she graduated with distinction. She then reported to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 in NAS Patuxent River, serving as the P-8A Poseidon mission system’s lead, P-8A assistant developmental test director, and NFO NATOPS officer. She also flew over 30 “Cat C” flight tests and led acceptance testing for the Navy’s first 7 P-8A aircraft.
In October 2011, CDR Lazenka reported to VP-30 at NAS Jacksonville, FL, as the P-8A Fleet Integration Team (FIT) Operations Officer and NFO NATOPS officer. She helped transition the first 4 P-3C squadrons to the P-8A and led the acceptance of 8 P-8As for VP-30. She stayed in Jacksonville, reporting to VP-5 in February 2014 and beginning her Department Head tour. She completed two deployments to the Pacific Theatre and served as the VP-5 NATOPS, Training, and Operations Officer.
Advancing a Military Career
Commander Lazenka reported to the Advanced Sensors Technology (AST) Program Office at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., in June 2016. Serving as the Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS) Training IPT Lead, she delivered ACAT-1D AAS Radar training simulators and courseware to the P-8A Fleet. She then reported to the MQ-25 Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA) Program Office (PMA-268) in April 2019 at NAS Patuxent River as the UCA Mission Control System (UMCS) Product IPT Lead.
In November 2020, the Commander joined the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 30 in Point Mugu, California, where she currently serves as the Commanding Officer. She is the first woman to hold this position.
Even without the specifics, her bio is impressive: Commander Colette Lazenka is an Aviation Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO) and designated Acquisition Professional with career field certifications in Test & Evaluation and Program Management. She earned her M.S. in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Liberty University. Her personal decorations include the Air Medal Strike/Flight (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (eight awards), and various unit and campaign awards.
Bottom Line
In an event dedicated to recognizing women in aviation, we are honored that two women who have contributed so much to aviation and helped inspire future generations will be leading proceedings. We are proud to have these two distinguished women at our upcoming airshow. Wings Over Camarillo, taking place August 20 & 21, features the VC99s debuting an exhibit in the Commemorative Air Force Museum entitled Notable Women in Aviation. The museum will be open during the airshow, and your ticket purchase will include admission. Get your tickets now!
Stop by the CAF Museum Hangar to see the Notable Women In Aviation Exhibit!
More details here!
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