The Sky's the Limit: an Interview with Megan Gaston

When she's not flying into hurricanes collecting critical data for hurricane research and forecasts, NOAA Corps Commander, former test pilot, and Navy veteran, Megan Gaston works at NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office. Gaston started her new assignment in January.

NOAA Corps assignments operate on a rotational system. Officers typically alternate between operational roles either at sea (mariners) or in the air (aviators) and land-based shore assignments every 2 to 5 years. These assignments are designed to build a mix of operational experience, technical expertise, and leadership capabilities. All officers are expected to serve in both capacities over their careers.

We sat down with Gaston to ask her about her new land-based shore assignment, when she became interested in flying and how she got here.

Have you always wanted to be a pilot?

I've wanted to be a pilot since the 5th grade. My dad took me to an airshow in Tucson, Arizona. There was a loud speaker broadcasting the communication of the pilot in the cockpit. It was a woman, and she was talking the whole time she was doing aerobatics. I was so in awe and remember asking my dad if girls could be pilots because I didn't realize it at the time. Ever since then, I would always tell people that's what I wanted to be when I grew up and all I did was research how to become one. There was a short stint where I also wanted to be an actor but that's another story!

What did you study in school in order to become a NOAA Corps pilot?

NOAA Corps officers have to have a college degree with a certain number of STEM credits. There is no requirement to have a certain degree. I came to be a NOAA Corps pilot through the Inter-Service Transfer program. It's a program where active duty military officers serving in other armed services in roles deemed critical for the NOAA Corps (pilots/mariners) can do a basically one-for-one transfer and commission into the NOAA Corps as an officer. All your time in the military counts and you typically come over at the same rank you were in your previous service. I served for almost 11 years in the Navy as a pilot before coming to the NOAA Corps. I was commissioned in the Navy through the U.S. Naval Academy. I also did all of my flight training through the Navy.

How does a day in the life of an air-based assignment differ from what you are doing now?

The daily life in a land-based assignment has been a lot different so far, though I've just started so I don't think I have a true sense of things yet. During my operational assignment at the Air Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida, the pace of life is very hectic and at times can be super stressful. You are constantly trying to make all the operational puzzle pieces fit together of planes, logistics, and people in order to get the mission done. It's especially busy during hurricane season when you are juggling ensuring you and your family are prepared while also ensuring you are ready to go fly when called upon.

What is the most interesting thing about this land-based assignment so far? Can you apply what you are learning at the NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office to the work you do as a pilot?

So far everything is interesting because I don't have a background in marine mammals but I'm truly fascinated by the work being done here. It's amazing to see the teams come together whether with rule-making and policy or responding to an entangled mammal and how much collaboration takes place. A lot of missions NOAA Corps pilots fly are in direct work with science and research of different sea life, so I think having an understanding of what's happening on the ground here will absolutely help me better coordinate and strategically plan flight missions. At the heart of just being in another NOAA office, you can get to learn and take away how people are getting the missions done and working with each other and there's always something to learn from how others are doing things.

You have said when it comes to having inspiring women around you in this job "It can always be better." Any advice for girls and young women wanting to become pilots but not sure how to get there?

The best advice I can give to young women wanting to become a pilot/engineer/scientist is to take every opportunity that comes your way. A lot of times it may involve taking a risk and highly likely it will be outside your comfort zone, but those opportunities are exactly where something amazing will be revealed in you. Don't ever think you're not good enough or not deserving of an opportunity. And if you don't feel like opportunities come your way-make a way for yourself. Now, as a parent myself of three little girls, one thing my parents did that I'm very appreciative of (among many things like instilling work ethic and resiliency), is they exposed me to a variety of different career paths. Without exposure it's hard for a little kid to know what's out there and what they can dream of one day doing. And obviously seeing someone like you achieving something great is the very first spark that's needed. In my case, seeing a woman pilot flying around doing aerobatics in an aircraft was the spark that was like "Hey, if she can do it then I can too!"

When you are not flying, what do you like to do for fun?

I used to have fun and then I had kids…..just kidding, it's great! We love getting outdoors, especially now living close to the water. The beach and strolls along Coffee Pot are among our new faves. I've always been an avid runner; that's something I really enjoy.

Gaston with husband: Drew, Millie (3), Kendall (1.5), Charlotte (1.5)

Gaston lives in Old Northeast St. Petersburg, Florida with her husband and three young girls.