Ruth Maestre

Ruth Maestre is originally from Pendleton, Indiana, U.S.A. She attended Purdue University majoring in forestry. In 1984, the Federal Aviation Administration hired Ruth as an Air Traffic Controller. During her 20-year career she spent 4 years as a Flight Service Station specialist in Ft. Wayne IN and Terre Haute IN. Ruth then transferred to Cincinnati Lunken Tower and she has spent the past 12 years at the Dayton International Airport at the radar approach control facility.

An active member of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Ruth has served as NATCA facility representative at Dayton and currently serves as the Great Lakes Regional Representative to the National Constitution Committee.

In 1988 and again in 1992 Ruth worked at Oshkosh as an air traffic controller during the airshow, which is billed as the largest air show in the world for number of attending aircraft.

Ruth received her private pilot certificate in 1992 and multi-engine qualification in 2001.

She is a charter member of Women in Aviation International. In 1996, she was honored as Volunteer of the Year at the annual Women in Aviation International Conference.

Ruth is a member of the International 99's, the Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM), Professional Women Controllers (PWC), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), and the Air Race Classic.

As a member of the American Yankee Association (AYA), Ruth and her late husband Jon served as AYA regional directors and chair of AYA's 1997 International Convention. The AYA (named after the a small 2 place aircraft called an American Yankee) is the type club for the Grumman aircraft line.

While, she enjoys flying her Grumman Tiger, Ruth is currently building an all-composite Lancair IVP. The Lancair is a 4 place, high performance aircraft and will be powered by a turbine engine.

Ruth has been racing airplanes since 1995 and has achieved multiple top ten finishes. A win in 2000 of the Air Race Classic, an all-women's race, with Denise Waters, was her best finish. The course was 2,300 miles from Tucson, Arizona, to Hyannis, Massachusetts, with 45 participating teams. In 2001 Ruth, again flying with New York friend Denise Waters participated in and finished the London to Sydney air race. In this race they covered 12,000 miles, 5 continents, 18 countries in 28 days.

Ruth serves on the Aviation Advisory Board for Sinclair Community College. She also spends time volunteering with girl scouts earning their aviation badges, and at local high school and college career days discussing Air Traffic Control as a career option.

In addition to her aviation interest Ruth owns a commercial embroidery business, has managed a gourmet food business and she also enjoys sailing.