Jennifer Aurora ’96, a two-time Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, recently retired as the first female command chief master sergeant in the Illinois Air National Guard. Her unwavering commitment, leadership prowess, and pioneering spirit have not only shattered barriers but also inspired others to reach new heights.
Aurora was born and raised in Bloomington, encountering Illinois State University and its students for most of her life. Aurora’s mother was raised in Southern Illinois while her father had his roots in the Bloomington area which is where the couple raised Aurora and her younger brother. They were raised on a small family farm just outside of the Bloomington city limits where they took care of cows, chickens, and a hive of bees. The entire property was along a sizeable creek, so they grew up on a well-rounded adventure land.
Aurora thrived for adventure. She joined the Illinois Air National Guard when she was 17 years old while attending Normal Community High School. Her career started with an intention to join the Guard, a six-year commitment, to pay for college and then join the Peace Corps. Majoring in agribusiness at Illinois State University, Aurora started a civilian career at Growmark Inc. during her senior year, but three years later took an active assignment with the Illinois Air National Guard. There she supported peace and wartime contingencies both stateside and abroad.
When she enrolled at Illinois State, she stayed active with the Illinois Air National Guard and committed one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer for training.
“Even though it was a small sacrifice in time, I felt it was always hitting the schedule when I could have used the weekend to study or write,” she said. “It was the understanding and respect the Illinois State faculty had toward military members attending courses that made it so much easier. It all boiled down to communication and being very organized. I had to train myself to be responsible — it took a while to figure out,”
Aurora loved her time at Illinois State, especially being a part of a soil judging team. She joined the club after taking a soil conservation course. The professor who advised the club taught students how to jump down into a pit in the ground and determine the percentage of different soils found. As a part of the team, she competed against other universities using hands, saliva, and any other natural resource to win. It was an out-of-box experience for Aurora where she learned a lot about the area she lived in and even more about herself and the experiences she wanted to have moving forward.
Being a full-time student, participating in student organizations, and simultaneously staying active with the Air Force required commitment and determination, which was not a problem for Aurora. She seamlessly accepted her first assignment within the Security Forces Squadron, a unit tasked with providing base-wide protection and security. The range of services offered by the squadron includes various crucial aspects such as police services, antiterrorism measures, air base defense, physical and personnel security, along with combat arms training.
She was one of four females to over 70 males during the Gulf War’s Operation Desert Storm, which began with the aerial bombing campaign against Iraq in January 1991 and ended with the American-led liberation of Kuwait in February 1991. Remarkably, Aurora was still a freshman at Illinois State, initiating her studies in January 1991 as she had to forego the fall semester due to basic training. Notably, Illinois State military students have a great deal of support while pursuing their degree as the institution has garnered national recognition for its military-friendly initiatives, earning both gold and silver medals.
Upon transitioning into the military on a full-time basis after graduation, Aurora decided to prioritize her growth and development. She seized every available opportunity to apply for courses that would not only enhance her professional skills but also enrich her personal growth. One of her fondest memories was applying and being selected to represent the Air National Guard at Royal Air Force Halston, United Kingdom. She joined enlisted leadership, supporting INLEAD, from the Armies and Air Forces of Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. INLEAD is the Air Force Reserve Command International Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Development Course for NATO and allied partnered Air Force and Air Reserve component senior enlisted leaders. The symposium is held every summer and is sponsored by the International Air Reserve Symposium which was established in 1992.
“It allowed me to experience the military heritage of different nations while learning leadership development in an international integrated environment,” Aurora said. “To this day I still speak to many of those international comrades.”
Operation Iraqi Freedom significantly altered the possibility that Aurora’s entire career might have passed without experiencing deployment in a wartime setting. It marked a departure from the typical career trajectory for many Guard members as it brought the possibility into reality.
Aurora’s first deployment, to Qatar, provided an opportunity to support aviation operations, particularly with F-16 jets. Assigned to the scheduling office, she tracked F-16 sorties, crew rest periods, and rotations—an unfamiliar task compared to her usual responsibilities back home.
Her second deployment to Balad Air Base in Iraq saw her taking on multiple roles within the operations orderly room. From overseeing security and resources to managing logistics and ensuring the welfare of enlisted personnel, she found herself at the heart of a complex operational environment. Balad Air Base housed over 30,000 personnel from various branches of the U.S. military and international allies.
Despite Aurora’s career field not typically involving off-base assignments, she found meaningful ways to contribute during downtime, volunteering at the on-base Air Force Theater Hospital. There she assisted and interacted with Iraqi citizens in need of medical attention, offering support to those most affected by the ongoing disturbances, calling it a rewarding experience.
Aurora thinks of the military as a big family, a close-knit group that looks out for each other and believes a person only succeeds if everyone succeeds.
“We learn early on to be a great wingman, someone you can turn to for advice or mentorship,” she said. “It is instilled from day one and is so natural it becomes your lifestyle. This remains true now that everyone is a mentor at some point to someone in their lives. It should be in how you go about your everyday life. It should be seen in the drive-thru, with your work colleagues, and with your children.”
Reflecting on her journey, Aurora had no idea how long she would stay in the military when she first joined. She had never thought of reaching certain ranks but cherishes making the rank of master sergeant (E-7), calling it one of her most memorable achievements. Later that opportunity led her to make chief master sergeant (E-9), the terminal rank for enlisted airmen.
Aurora became the first female command chief master sergeant for the 183rd Wing and soon after was offered the command chief master sergeant position for the Illinois Air National Guard. State command chief master sergeant is the highest-ranking enlisted member of the Air National Guard in the state.
They advise the top military leaders about how well forces are prepared, how effective missions are, and how they can improve. They also look after the training, health, and well-being of the enlisted airmen in the state. If there are any problems, they fix them and lead the enlisted force. They also guide and support other senior enlisted leaders like wing command chiefs, group superintendents, and first sergeants. Being a trailblazer in a field where men are the majority, she thanks her mentors who supported her in this journey.
“I believe the structure and organization of the Guard gave me a work ethic I carry with me in my personal life and now in my civilian career,” she said. “Being a female in a male-dominated workforce encourages you to find your voice and your confidence quickly. The skills and experiences I gained have allowed me to follow any path I choose in life.”
Aurora values the privilege of staying connected with others, reflecting on her past experiences in the military and college where everything was heavily reliant on paper. But she’s noticed the impact of social media on maintaining relationships since then. Through these platforms, Aurora keeps in touch with the friends she has met throughout her career and college years. Staying flexible and moving forward with technologies is a lesson she also learned in the military.
“Be flexible. I started out wanting to graduate and join the Peace Corps,” she said. “My life took different turns, and in the end, they were the best for me. Embrace change because, if anything, the military is built upon constant change. Our technologies must stay ahead of our enemies. Our concentration and support in the world are needed in different regions. Being able to move with the changes makes it a lot easier to develop and grow.
“Make mistakes and learn from them. Just because I retired as a command chief does not mean there were no mistakes along the way. Acknowledging those mistakes and learning from them instills a sense of resilience that will get you through anything.”
Aurora enjoys her retirement and life adventures in Bloomington with Nitin Aurora, her husband of 16 years. They have a 15-year-old daughter, Loella, who attends University High School.
