The first woman to ever serve as Naval Air Station Patuxent River Commanding Officer, Capt. Heidi Fleming, appeared in that role one last time as she stood on stage at Hangar 109 and turned command of the installation over to NAS Patuxent River Executive Officer Capt. Scott Starkey April 14.

Hangar 109, part of Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1, held special significance in that VXS-1 was Fleming's first command -- she served as the squadron's executive officer and then its commanding officer from 2006 to 2008.

Getting started in the military
Growing up in a military family, Fleming was influenced by her father, Bill Fleming, who retired as a major general after 30 years as an artillery officer in Korea and transitioning to flying photo reconnaissance in the U.S. Marine Corps.

"My dad flew RF-4s and RF-8s and aviation always fascinated me, but everyone in my family went to Auburn and I had planned to attend Auburn on a chemical engineering scholarship," she said. "It was my dad who suggested I try the [U.S. Naval] Academy and when I got the appointment, I thought I'd give it a whirl. I think Dad wanted me to go Navy because of his Marine Corps background."

Fleming graduated from the Academy in 1989, just nine years after the first women ever permitted to attend the institution blazed the way.

"I did come across a few people who may not have wanted us there at that time but, frankly, my mentality was always 'know your job, be professional, be a team player' - and I never really had any issues," she said.

Finding the correct Navy path to follow
Just as she was about to be winged, Fleming -- the only woman in her Training Squadron 10 class at NAS Pensacola -- was pulled aside and told there were no more female billets remaining, and she'd have to be held back.

"I was in a holding pattern from January until July 1990," she said. "When I did get winged, there were a few female slots and limited choices. I selected VR-22, flying C-130s out of Rota, Spain."

Fleming said she wasn't always certain about her career and there was a time when her chosen path was nearly diverted.

Back from a second tour and serving shore duty in 1995 as an instructor and the Naval Academy's Division I Women's head volleyball coach, Fleming considered coaching as a full-time career until the restrictions on women flying combat aircraft were lifted.

"As a naval flight officer in C-130s, I couldn't get a warfare specialty," she recalled. "My boss was from the maritime patrol community and supported my transition, so I ended up applying and was selected to transition to P-3s at that point. I never looked back."

Role and responsibility as CO
Fleming has served as Pax River CO since Sept. 18, 2014 and while she was aware that she made installation history as the first woman in the position, it didn't influence how she commanded, she said.

"This day and age, it didn't change what I expected of myself or how I approached the job," she said. "I approached it the way anyone coming in would approach it, by wanting to do what's best for the installation and its tenants, and making sure there's a strong partnership outside the fence line."

Asked if she felt she served as a role model for young women Sailors, Fleming acknowledged that she does feel like a role model, but not just for women.

"I hope I'm a role model -- but for all Sailors," she noted. "Anyone in a position of leadership from first line supervisors all the way to the CNO should be a role model. It's about setting a personal example, how you carry yourself, how you approach people and speak to them. We can all be role models at our own levels."

What she learned
Pax River is a complex enterprises among installations in the Navy, comprising research, development, testing and evaluation; conducting operational missions; and even including a maritime surface component. More than 25,000 civilians, contractors and active-duty service members all play a part at an installation that develops capabilities the Navy will use for decades to come.

"I've learned a tremendous amount from the subject matter experts here who are out doing the hard work on the front lines and it's been my pleasure to work with them and learn about what they do in their individual areas," Fleming said. "From child care to the Sailor putting together the E28 arresting gear, talking to public works about construction projects, discussing tactics and procedures with security, or working with environmental and more, I was in a better position to lead them because I knew how they operated, their constraints, and what they needed to do their jobs."

Memories
Fleming describes herself as a people person who enjoys engaging with others, whether it's reenlisting a Sailor, flying with some of her lieutenants, talking with tenants or meeting with representatives from the community.

"Any days I felt like I made a difference in someone else's life were my most memorable days," she said. "Having command, you get the opportunity to lead a diverse group of people and when you can look back and see what everyone has collectively accomplished, that's rewarding. It's really all about the people."

When asked if she'd do it all over again, Fleming didn't hesitate to say "yes," although she joked that perhaps she'd do it "a little smarter and avoid the rougher roads along the way."

And the only regret she has across her entire career is that her father passed away in 1999, just as she made O4.

"There was so much of the second half [of my career] that I didn't get to share with him, which would've been incredibly fun for both of us," she said.

Civilian life
Fleming will be staying in the area, she said.

"I will need to job hunt for the first time in my life and I would like to get back to some hobbies," she added. "I told the [incoming CO] I'll wave to him on my way to the golf course when I am on my leave."

She mentioned the strangest thing about being out of uniform will be the realization that her uniform is hung up for good, but she knows her military mindset will carry over into the civilian world.

"Even though I received a certain amount of respect walking into a room as captain, in my opinion, I either earn that respect each day or I don't," Fleming stated. "It's about who you are and how you treat people and those core qualities instilled in me by the Navy will not change."

Well wishes and fond farewells
"Being around aviation is incredibly rewarding and it's been an amazing tour," Fleming said. "My dad always told me to approach every job by trying to turn it over a little bit better than the way you got it. I think we were able to move the ball forward in many areas. I know Capt. Starkey will have a phenomenal tour and he'll do tremendous things as he takes Pax River to the next level. I look forward to seeing him sitting in the CO seat and leading the great staff we have here."

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