Martha McSally
Martha McSally (born March 22, 1966) is a retired United States Air Force Colonel and politician who is currently a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first American woman to fly in combat since the 1991 lifting of the prohibition of women in combat, flying the A-10 over Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch. She is the first woman to command a USAF fighter squadron, the 354th Fighter Squadron (354 FS) based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. After her military career, McSally ran for Congress in her home district three times. She ran in the April 2012 Republican primary for the special election in Arizona's 8th district, but lost to Jesse Kelly. Months later, she began the first of two races as the Republican candidate in the same district (renumbered as the 2nd district after redistricting), facing off against incumbent Democrat Ron Barber both times. In 2012, she narrowly lost. But in 2014, following a recount, McSally was declared the winner on December 17, by a margin of 167 votes.