Women's History Month: 2nd Lt. Shannon Pingitore

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Catharine Schmidt
  • 109th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. --  Second Lt. Shannon Pingitore is a 17-year veteran, with eight of those years being with the 109th Airlift Wing here. She said service of country, direction and career opportunities all attributed to her decision to join the military.

Pingitore is currently a food services officer with the 109th Force Support Squadron's Services Flight. In this position she manages lodging, the fitness program, food service, and mortuary affairs.

"(I work with) one of the greatest teams that a flight commander could have," she said. "They really do it all I just try to provide the right training and equipment. 'Set them up for success' is my motto."

Her full time position is a human resources specialist with Joint Forces Headquarters in Latham. Pingitore is also an avid runner and has run the Boston Marathon twice. She has her bachelor's degree in Business Administration and is currently working on her Master of Science in Administration Degree.

"We are a small force, we hold a small percentage to our male counterparts," she said on women in the armed forces. "In today's world we hold and maintain career fields that were once only given to men, and we are held under the same standards of quality and performance. I personally think that is awesome. I want to be held and respected just like our male counterparts. It's obvious that we are different types of humans - the way we think and act. But combining the two can make a powerful force."