‘Petty Officer 3rd Class Nichols, has always had a passion for flying. Though too short to be a flight attendant, she found a way to fulfill her passion for navigating the skies by joining the Coast Guard as an Aviation Maintenance Technician. Throughout her five years in service, Petty Officer 3rd Class Nichols served our country proud, flying as a Dropmaster on the HU-25 Falcon Jet. She also participated in many search and rescue and drug interdiction missions, including one when Hurricane Katrina struck.’