First female warrant officer graduates Officer Candidate School, will operate Stingrays
By Diana Stancy Correll
Mar 9, 11:46 AM
Josia Pagler has become the first woman to graduate as a warrant officer from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and is now slated to operate MQ-25 Stingray carrier-based refueling drones.
Warrant Officer 1 Pagler was previously an aviation electrician’s mate 3rd class with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 based out of Jacksonville, Florida. But after learning she had graduated from California State University Long Beach in 2016, her division officer and assistant maintenance officer encouraged her to apply for the new aerial vehicle operator (AVO) warrant officer specialty.
“I honestly haven’t wrapped my mind around being the first of anything, however, I want to tell others to not hold yourselves back from going for something you want,” Pagler said. “Don’t be intimidated in a community where the majority are men.”
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2022/03/09/first-female-warrant-officer-graduates-officer-candidate-school-will-operate-stingrays/
