Black Hawk helicopter pilot has passion for service and the skies

“I always find myself with my hands in many different baskets,” said Lia Paolucci. But few would expect that one of those “baskets” would be the controls of a Black Hawk helicopter.

At 28 years old, Paolucci has carved out a notable career as a detachment commander and helicopter pilot in the Maryland Army National Guard. A graduate of St. Joan of Arc School in Aberdeen, Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson and Fordham University in New York, she has balanced military service, education and a relentless drive to give back to her community.

In the air

Flying isn’t just a requirement for Paolucci – it’s a thrill. She pilots about once a week, meeting the Guard’s flight-hour mandates, but she never sees it as a chore.

“It feels awesome to fly,” she said, noting that “flying is definitely the best part of my job.”

“It’s hard to describe,” said Paolucci, who has obtained the rank of captain and is based at Aberdeen Proving Ground. “Obviously, most people are familiar with flying, but piloting an aircraft is a really, really enjoyable experience.”

Every flight is a process involving copious teamwork, including at least two pilots, one on the controls and another on communication and navigation. They may switch responsibilities during the flight.

Each flight is meticulously planned.

“Air crew coordination starts before you fly and goes all the way through after you fly and you recap what happened,” Paolucci said.

She added that one of her most memorable assignments was a mission two years ago in which her unit integrated with an active-duty unit, providing medevac services and troop transport. She enjoyed both the teamwork and the “challenging” flight conditions among the mountains in the Nevada desert.

Paolucci appreciates the unique role of the National Guard, which allows her to serve both federal and local community needs.

“That’s something that I really appreciate because I know that my responsibility is to the people around me just as much as it is to the country,” she explained.

Shaped for service

Paolucci credits her education with shaping her commitment to service. St. Joan of Arc, Notre Dame Prep and Fordham all instilled in her a deep appreciation for helping others.

“Being in the military is a direct way to serve, and it also comes with community,” Paolucci said.

Paolucci traces her desire to serve back to St. Joan of Arc School. Teachers such as David Brothers and Kristin Pinkowski helped instill in her the value of service. They also provided an example for her when she taught for a year in a Philadelphia school during her time in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps while at Fordham, where she majored in psychology and theology with a minor in peace and justice studies.

“I pulled a lot from my recollection of (Brothers’) teaching,” she said.

At Notre Dame Prep, religious education instructor Lucy Strausbaugh helped grow the young Catholic’s awareness of the concept of social justice.

“Religion class can feel repetitive, but she went down into the values of Catholic social teaching,” Paolucci recalled, adding that the exposure led her to eventually join the JVC.

Role models

Paolucci looks up to Lt. Theresa Perotta, her battalion commander, as “the one female aviator I knew growing up,” but also for “the way she cares for the people she oversees.”

The pre-existing relationship was established via her father’s service in the Army National Guard as a helicopter pilot.

She grew up admiring her father, but emulating his career path wasn’t always something she imagined for herself.

“It wasn’t a direct thought I had as a child,” Paulucci said of becoming a pilot. “It seemed so cool, but it never seemed like something I could actually do. … I did have a little self-doubt when I decided to pursue aviation in ROTC.”

The career path was less surprising to those who had helped shape Paolucci, the eldest of four children.

“I am not surprised she followed in her father’s footsteps,” said Maria Stauffer, who taught Paolucci in the first grade at St. Joan of Arc.

Wendy Baur, who had Paolucci as a fifth grader, was surprised by the career choice but not the pursuit of excellence.

“I can see Lia working as a doctor since she has always strived for excellent grades and she likes to help others,” Bauer said.

The future

Bauer’s prediction isn’t far off. While continuing her military service, Paolucci is preparing for a career in health care. She is pursuing an associate’s degree in respiratory care from St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

She traces “the aspect of gratitude” throughout her life and ongoing aspirations to serve.

“I’ve been privileged by the opportunities I’ve had throughout my life and by the relationships I’ve had,” Paolucci said. “Service to me comes down to living out those values and that opportunity.” 

Kevin J. Parks contributed to this story.

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