U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. and NASA Astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann will deliver the keynote speech at an event hosted by the Wings for Val Foundation at Arlington National Cemetery’s Women’s Memorial on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 3-6 p.m. EDT. The public event is intended to honor fallen heroes and inspire the next generation of female aviators. At the event, she also will present the founders of the Wings for Val Foundation with her official naval aviator insignia pin, referred to as wings of gold.

Mann earned her wings as a naval aviator in 2003. To earn their wings, a service member must complete flight training and qualify as a military aircraft pilot. Mann has accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours in 22 types of aircraft, 200 carrier arrestments and 47 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

An accomplished aviator, Mann was selected by NASA in 2013 to join the astronaut corps and completed her initial training in 2015. She joins an esteemed group of 15 female aviators who have served with honor and who were selected as NASA astronauts.

In addition to honoring the female aviators of the astronaut corps, NASA encourages future generations of female leaders to pursue their goals and established a public website to highlight the achievements and stories of the talented women supporting the nation’s space program. The Women@NASA website was created to celebrate women from across the agency who contribute to NASA’s mission.

More information about the Sept. 10 event at Arlington and the Wings for Val Foundation can be found at wingsforvalfoundation2.eventbrite.com.

To learn more about the Women@NASA initiative, visit: https://women.nasa.gov/

For more information on Astronaut Mann, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/nicole-a-mann