Liz Booker

Liz Booker’s journey is a remarkable testament to resilience, ambition, and the power of storytelling to inspire change. Enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard at the tender age of 18 after leaving high school, Booker’s early years were spent mastering the crafts of navigation and seamanship. Her determination saw her ascending from a deckhand to a celebrated officer, navigating the rigorous path through Officer Candidate School to the esteemed halls of Navy flight training. It was there that she earned her wings, piloting the H-65 Dolphin helicopter across diverse missions from search and rescue to law enforcement and humanitarian aid, over the vast expanses of the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Booker’s academic pursuits, undeterred by the demanding life of active duty, led her to secure a bachelor’s degree from American Military University and later, a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. These achievements paved the way for significant roles within the Coast Guard, culminating in her position as the Senior Defense Official to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. Her tenure in the military was distinguished by numerous awards and honors, including the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Armed Forces Service Medal, underscoring her leadership and dedication to service.

Upon retiring in 2019 after 28 years of illustrious military service, Booker embarked on a new mission to harness the power of literature to empower and inspire the next generation of women in aviation. Her endeavors led to the creation of the Aviatrix Book Club, the Literary Aviatrix website, podcast, and YouTube channel, where she champions stories of women in aviation, fostering a community of readers, writers, and aviation enthusiasts.

Booker’s educational background is as diverse as her career, holding degrees in International Relations and Political Science, Public Administration, and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults. A commercially rated pilot, she continues to explore the skies, her flights serving both as passion and research for her writing.

Her personal life, marked by the joy of motherhood to three children and companionship of her husband, Robert, and their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, reflects the balance she has found beyond her professional achievements. Despite the accolades, Booker’s narrative remains grounded in the real-life challenges of doubts, fears, and struggles, which she candidly shares, adding depth to her accomplishments and serving as a beacon of perseverance.

Liz Booker’s story is not just one of success against the odds but a reminder of the profound impact one individual can have in paving the way for future generations, particularly in fields where women have historically been underrepresented. Her life, a blend of dedication, service, and literary advocacy, continues to inspire and encourage women to soar to new heights.