From the court to flying C-27s in the U.S. Coast Guard, Lt. Meghan Fornaro compares life to the game of basketball.  

“Every play is different. Every team is different. The match-ups are different,” she said. “I would say that’s similar to my everyday operations.”

The former Shepherd Hill Regional High School star is also in the record books at the Coast Guard Academy. Now, she’s one of only two female pilots at an air station in Sacramento, California. 

“I have people that are like ‘Oh my gosh, you’re a pilot?’,” Lt. Fornaro said. “To me, I‘m like going through these steps and you know, here I am.”

Aviation wasn’t always on Lt. Fornaro’s radar. She’s worked on water and land and said seeing the planes in action during a rescue mission made her want to fly.  

What You Need To Know

  • Lt. Meghan Fornaro compares life to the game of basketball
  • The former Shepherd Hill Regional High School star now flies C-27s in the U.S. Coast Guard
  • The 28-year-old carries out patrol and search and rescue missions in Sacramento 
  • She takes pride in being a female pilot and teaching young women they can be anything they want to be

“So I was driving the ship, and I was like that just happened,”Lt. Fornaro said. “I was like I want to do that and I want to learn more about that.”

And she wanted to understand why more women weren’t pilots. 

“We just need more to show them we can pave the way,” Lt. Fornaro said. “Once we get more, more are going to jump on board.”

The 28-year-old carries out patrol and search and rescue missions on the West Coast and is still on the court as a volunteer high school basketball coach. She takes pride in being a female pilot and teaching young women they can be anything they want too. ​

“I am finally here. I am happy. I am doing what I love,” she said. “You know, you’re a female, you’re a young girl that has these dreams, and I want them to see that it is possible. The only way we can do that is by seeing the representation.”