JOINT-BASE SAN ANTONIO-Randolph, Texas -- Two Reserve Citizen Airmen and their children were recently featured guests on ABC’s The Chew during an episode designed to honor military members and veterans, and to kick off the annual U.S. Navy’s Fleet Week in New York City. Recommended for the program by the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs’ New York office, the family traveled from Colorado to New York for the live taping.
Appearing on the popular daytime talk show on May 20 were 340th Flying Training Group, 70th Flying Training Squadron Director of Operations Lt. Col. Maura George and 302nd Airlift Wing, 731st Airlift Squadron Evaluator Pilot and Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) Pilot Maj. Derik George; both in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
According to ABC, The Chew celebrates and explores life through food, with a group of dynamic, engaging, fun, relatable co-hosts who serve up everything to do with food -- from cooking and home entertaining to food trends, restaurants, holidays and more -- all aimed at making life better, fuller and more fun.
Both former Army helicopter pilots, the Georges met at Vance Air Force Base, Enid, Oklahoma in April 2004, while attending the Air Force’s Fixed Wing Qualification course. Just over a year later, while Maj. George flew KC-135s in Sioux City, Iowa and Lt. Col. George flew C-130s in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the two were married.
Maura has served four combat deployments to include a tour as an Army UH-60 Medevac Pilot in Iraq, and two tours as a C-130 pilot. In addition to annual stateside deployments in support of the MAFFS mission, Derik has served two combat tours as a C-130 pilot.
While managing the typical dual-military family dynamics, the added dimension of also being a dual-pilot family brings its own unique challenges. During her 2013 deployment, when their kids were 5 years, 2 years, and 9 months old, Derik (who by then was also flying C-130s) was simultaneously called up to fly fire suppression missions for the Black Forest fire in Colorado Springs. In 2014, while attempting to land at Hill Air Force Base, Utah after a successful MAFFS mission, Derik and his crew were forced to declare an emergency and experienced a hard landing after the aircraft’s nose gear failed to extend properly. The crew’s efforts resulted in no injuries and minimal damage earning them the Air Mobility Command Chief of Safety Aircrew of Distinction Award.
During The Chew appearance, the George family shared their thoughts about and experiences as a dual-military family, described their roles as Reserve Citizen Airmen pilots, explained how they work together to ensure their family has quality time together, and sampled some quick and tasty foods prepared by program hosts.
To thank the Georges for their service, and for making time to appear on the program, ABC presented them with a trip to Disney World™ in Orlando, Florida.