CPT (R) Jessica E. Stephenson
- Graduate of A. I. DuPont HS
- Graduate of United States Military Academy
- Flew AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopters
- Logged +400 Combat Hours in Afghanistan
- Earned 3 Air Medals and Combat Action Badge
- Commanded Attack Helicopter Troop
CPT (R) Jessica E. Stephenson is a third-generation graduate of Alexis I. DuPont High School in Greenville, Delaware. She graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 2010. Upon graduation from USMA, she was commissioned as an Army Aviator.
Jessica graduated third in her flight school class of eighty, enabling her to fly the world’s most advanced attack helicopter, the AH-64D Apache Longbow. Very few people qualify to fly the AH-64D Apache Longbow; fewer than 5% are women.
In 2012, Jessica was assigned to the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). In 2013, her Brigade made one of the last combat deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan. Flying over 400 combat hours, Jessica earned three air medals and the combat action badge which was awarded for engaging the enemy in combat.
In 2015, Jessica was selected by her brigade commander to be interviewed for a book by a military historian, Colonel Will G. Merrill, Jr. His book, “Ordinary People: Extraordinary Heroes - Afghanistan and Iraq: The Face of War,” includes Jessica’s interview about her distinguished service in Afghanistan.
In 2016, Jessica commanded an Attack Helicopter Troop as part of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized Infantry) at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia. She retired from the U.S. Army in August 2018. Her military service as a distinguished Delaware Army Aviator was memorialized on the “Women in Military Service Monument” in front of Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware.
Soon after her retirement, Jessica joined the Harvard Business School class of 2020. Post graduation, Jessica has worked for a major financial firm. She also participates in numerous disabled veteran events, programs, and charities.
