Heather Penney

Heather Penney
Born	(1974-09-18) September 18, 1974
Occupation(s)	Defense policy specialist, former USAF pilot
Known for	One of two F-16 pilots who attempted to intercept United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001

Heather Renee Penney (born September 18, 1974) serves as a defense policy specialist at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies located in Arlington, Virginia. She gained recognition as a USAF lieutenant and one of two F-16 pilots who flew unarmed jets in an effort to ram and bring down United Airlines Flight 93 before it could reach Washington, D.C., amid the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Early life

Penney pursued a degree in literature at Purdue University. Her father, retired Air Force Colonel John Penney (born 1947), served from 1970 to 1979 during the Vietnam War and subsequently worked for United Airlines from 1979 until his retirement in 2007.

Air National Guard

As the sole woman in her fighter pilot training cohort, Penney was also the only female pilot within the 121st Fighter Squadron of the District of Columbia Air National Guard, based at Joint Base Andrews. In 2009, she transitioned to the 201st Airlift Squadron, which specializes in rapid-response global transport for the executive branch, members of Congress, Department of Defense personnel, and senior U.S. and international officials.

September 11 attacks

During the September 11, 2001 attacks, Penney held the rank of first lieutenant and was tasked with intercepting United Flight 93 alongside fellow pilot Marc H. Sasseville from Andrews Air Force Base. Their F-16 jets were not armed with live ammunition except for a minimal amount of rounds used solely for flight trim; therefore, their only viable tactic involved ramming the hijacked aircraft. However, they never engaged Flight 93 directly because it had already crashed approximately 35 minutes before their departure and would have reached Washington about 15 minutes earlier if it had continued.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Penney conveyed her willingness to sacrifice her life if necessary, stating, "there are things in this world that are more important than ourselves... this idea called America binds us together in citizenship and community and brotherhood."

Iraq War

Penney undertook two deployments during the Iraq War, further advancing her military service.

Private sector

In 2006, Penney joined Lockheed Martin as director of USAF Air Superiority Programs within Lockheed Martin Washington Operations while maintaining a part-time role with the Air National Guard. Her work heavily involved the development and advancement of the F-35 program.

On September 7, 2017, Penney and her father, Col. John Penney, presented a lecture entitled “9/11 Perspectives” at the National Air and Space Museum as part of the GE Aviation Lecture Series. After departing Lockheed Martin in 2018, she became a defense policy expert at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Additionally, Penney contributed as an air power analyst on the documentary television series Bullet Points.

Awards and honors

Penney was honored with Purdue University’s College of Liberal Arts and Alumni Association Emerging Voice Award in 2012. She also received The Wings Club Foundation's Outstanding Aviator Award in 2017 as well as recognition from the International Aviation Women's Association.