Andrea Henshall is a retired AFSOC instructor pilot and current PhD candidate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). While on active duty, she also served as a U-28 research and development officer and operational check pilot, completed seven tours of combat, and co-authored the AFTTP 3-1 for the U-28. Andrea has a bachelor’s degree in Astronautical Engineering from the US Air Force Academy, a master’s in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, a master’s in computer science from Auburn University and is completing her PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT. While at MIT, Andrea established the Institute’s Student Veterans of America chapter, conducted research for the Air Force AI Accelerator program, is serving her fourth year on the ROTC Oversight Committee, and is the teaching assistant for the SOCOM-sponsored course “Engineering Innovation: Global Security Systems.” Andrea is also a Service to School Ambassador, Warrior Scholar Project mentor, Graduate Application Assistant Program mentor, and Educational Counselor for MIT. Andrea’s research has been published in a variety of international sources and her algorithms have been incorporated into DoD hardware for over a decade. Andrea is passionate about strengthening the mutually beneficial ties between the SOF community and academia.