Lieutenant Commander Mary Hesler Foster hails from Charlotte, North Carolina and received her commission through the United States Naval Academy in May 2009 graduating with distinction with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.  She was designated as a Naval Aviator in August 2011 and qualified in the MH-60S Seahawk in June 2012.

At sea, Lieutenant Commander Foster served with the Screamin’ Indians of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX from June 2012 to May 2015. She embarked with Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW 11), completing a Western Pacific deployment aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Red Sea Contingency Operations. She served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Tactics Officer, Line Division Officer, and Personnel Officer.

In 2021, Lieutenant Commander Foster reported for her operational department head tour with the Dragon Whales of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO EIGHT, flying both the MH-60S and MQ-8B as the Officer in Charge aboard USS Billings (LCS 15) in support of 4^th Fleet counter drug operations. Additionally, she served as the Maintenance Officer where she led 12 Officers, 18 Chief Petty Officers, and 409 Sailors in the daily maintenance of 15 MH-60S Seahawk helicopters and 5 MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aircraft.

Her shore assignments include Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE serving as the MH-60S NATOPS Program Manager and Instructor Pilot.

During her disassociated sea tour, Lieutenant Commander Foster served as the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Troop Commander at Special Reconnaissance Team TWO where she was responsible for the readiness and training of four UAS Troops encompassing over 65 Sailors providing UAS mission and maintenance support to Special Operations Task Force – East Africa.

She has flown over 1,630 flight hours in Naval aircraft and is tactically qualified in the MH-60S, MQ-8B Fire Scout, MQ-27A Scan Eagle, and RQ-20A Puma.

Lieutenant Commander Foster holds a Masters of Science in Aerospace Engineering from North Carolina State University. She and her husband live in Colorado Springs with their two sons.

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland (2009)

Masters of Science, Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (2018)

Instructor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (May 2023 − Present)

Department Head / Maintenance Officer / Officer in Charge, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO EIGHT, Norfolk, Virginia (April 2021 – April 2023)

Fleet Replacement Pilot, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO, Norfolk, Virginia (December 2019 – April 2021)

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Troop Commander, Special Reconnaissance Team TWO, Virginia Beach, Virginia (March 2018 – December 2019)

Instructor Pilot / MH-60S NATOPS Program Manager, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE, San Diego, California (June 2015 – February 2018)

Pilot, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX, San Diego, California (June 2012 – May 2015)

Fleet Replacement Pilot, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE, San Diego, California (September 2011 – June 2012)

Student Naval Aviator (Rotary Wing), Helicopter Training Squadron ONE EIGHT, Milton, Florida (February 2011 – September 2011)

Student Naval Aviator (Fixed Wing), Training Squadron TWO SEVEN, Corpus Christi, Texas (July 2010 – January 2011)

Student Naval Aviator, Naval Aviation Schools Command, Pensacola, Florida (September 2009 – June 2010)

Sailing Instructor / Temporary Assigned Duty, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland (June 2009 – September 2009)

Midshipman, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland (June 2005 – May 2009)

National Defense Service Medal (2005)

Navy Marksman Rifle (2005)

Navy Expert Pistol (2018)

Meritorious Unit Citation (2007)

Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2013)

Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2013)

Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon (2013)

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Ribbon (2013)

Meritorious Unit Citation (2013)

Navy Unit Battle Efficiency Ribbon (2014)

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2015)

Army High Altitude Aviation Training Site Graduate (2017)

Sikorsky 1000 Flight Hour Award (2017)

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2018)

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2018)

Navy Arctic Service Ribbon (2018)

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2020)

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2020)

Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon (2022)

Navy Unit Battle Efficiency Ribbon (2023)

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2023)