Shane McGarrett

Shane McGarrett, a native Southern Californian, has spent over thirty years in the aerospace industry; building, overhauling, and repairing aircraft.

While serving in the U.S.A.F. during Vietnam, she gained notoriety in the “Stars and Stripes” newspaper, as the first woman to be certified as a jet engine mechanic and crew chief.

After four years she walked away with an honorable discharge and a good conduct medal, as she segued into the corporate world as a structure’s mechanic at Lockheed Corp., and then at McDonnell Douglas. After qualifying for her A&P license, she joined the team of the Mar’s Rover 2020 project as a sheet metal mechanic at Cal Tech’s JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab).

Shane is more than just a mechanic though. She marched for women’s rights in the 1970’s and 80’s. Then years later for Gay rights. Shane holds three degrees, loves dogs, horses, and most living beings. (She even puts spiders outside.) But her love for the ocean tops everything and is what drives her to feel the sand between her toes as often as possible.