Ganado High grad piloting Blackhawks

(Courtesy photo)

Maria Lano, 31, originally of Ganado, Ariz., is prepping for a take. A career Army officer, she holds the rank of chief warrant officer 2 and pilots a Blackhawk helicopter while stationed in Germany.

advertisement

Ganado, Ariz., native Marie Rose Lano and her fiancé Dana Perdue are proud to say, "We are Blackhawk pilots."

Lano, who's been in the Army for 13 years, currently holds the rank of chief warrant officer 2, meaning she has highly specialized skills. She and daughter Shaniah, 11, along with Perdue, are stationed in Katterbach, Germany.

Lano's decision to become a pilot was in 2004.

"After initiating the paperwork, interviews, recommendation letters and one approval after the next, it finally became a reality for me when I saw my name on the flight school selection list in December 2006," Lano recalled. "It was very exciting and my family was the first to hear the news."

Flight school was complicated in the beginning because she had to understand how the aircraft works, aerodynamically and mechanically.

"Flying is the easy part," Lano said.

As of December, she has logged about 150 hours of flight time including 70 hours in the Blackhawk.

Lano, now 31, enlisted in the Army's delayed entry program the summer after she graduated from Ganado High School in 1995. She enlisted without letting her parents or anyone in her family know, waiting until Thanksgiving to tell them.

"My mom didn't believe me until she seen me board the bus from Gallup heading to the airport in Albuquerque," she said. "I don't remember the reactions from my sisters but I'm pretty sure they weren't surprised.

"My dad, on the other hand, was very proud and never once doubted me," said Lano.

She is Tsi'naajinii (Black Forest Clan), born for Tábaahá (Edge Water Clan). Her chei is Tsé Deeshgiizhnii (Rock Gap Clan) and her nálí is Tótsohnii (Big Water Clan).

When Army life got difficult, Lano said, "My family's words of encouragement are what kept me going through hard times."

Her inspiration to enlist came from her paternal grandfather, the late Harry Lano, a World War II Army veteran.

She plans to stay in the Army until she completes 20 years of active service. After that, she admits, her plans are uncertain.

For other young Navajos planning to pursue their dreams and goals, Lano offers, "Always approach the unknown willing to learn. You're willingness to learn is the secret to becoming the best at whatever it is you decide to do in life."

When asked what it meant to be a warrior, she replied, "I feel that being a warrior has given me the opportunity to serve our country with honor. Our country's freedom isn't something we should take for granted and I'm proud to say I am a soldier in the United States Army. Being a helicopter pilot is one of my greatest accomplishments. Now my goal is to become the best pilot I can be."

Back to top ^