Kathleen Lambert
Loadmaster in C-5 and C-17, 11,407 Flight Hours, C-17 Evaluator/ Instructor Loadmaster,
Recognized for 10,00 Mishap-free Flying Hours.
Kathleen Lambert’s last flight as loadmaster touched down June 27, 2016, completing a 33 year career in the United States Air Force Reserve. The Delaware resident logged over 11,407 flight hours in 27 years of flying while assigned to Dover Air Force Base; 680.5 of those hours were in combat and 191.1 in combat support.
As a female loadmaster in the 1990’s, Lambert pioneered her way through a male-dominated career field,around the world on peace and wartime missions.
She flew on two types of aircraft, first the C-5 Galaxy and then the C-17 Globemaster III.
In the C-5, she flew a total of 8,445.7 hours in support of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Her experience led to her appointment as a C-5 Evaluator/Instructor Loadmaster.
Lambert became part of the initial cadre of aircrew members from Dover AFB to be fully qualified and combat-ready on the C-17 Globemaster.
She was part of the flight crew who delivered the manufacturer’s second C-17 from California to Delaware in June 2007.
In the C-17, she flew a total of 3,148.9 flight hours in support of operations, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Lambert’s experience led to her appointment as a C-17 Evaluator/Instructor Loadmaster.
In all, she has traveled to 66 countries and territories, and received 87 awards and decorations. These include the Meritorious Service Medal with Second Oak Leaf Cluster,Air Medals, five Aerial Achievement Medals, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal from theof Saudi Arabia.
Senior Master Sgt. Kathleen Lambertalso recognized by the United States Air Force Reserve Command for 10,000 mishap-free flying hours.
In 2012, she was the only flier on base, from both active-duty and reserve flying wings, to wear this prestigious patch on her flight suit.
