Airmen of the Burgh: Senior Airman Gretchen Pegnetter

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marjorie A. Bowlden
  • 911th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PITTSBURGH --  As a personnel specialist with the 911th Operations Support Squadron, Senior Airman Gretchen Pegnetter's duties include creating orders, managing discharge packages and tracking important administrative paperwork. She is currently working with the 911th Airlift Wing on temporary detail to assist with similar duties.

Pegnetter grew up in the neighborhood of Brookline in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and she has lived in the Pittsburgh area for her entire life. She now calls the borough of Bellevue home.

Before joining the military, she obtained her bachelor's degree in medical imaging and worked at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Her uncle, formerly a recruiter here, suggested that she join the Air Force Reserve. She spoke to him at length about the different opportunities it could offer her.

"I wanted to serve my country, I just didn't know how to do it," she said. "I already had gone to college and had my civilian life planned out. I didn't want to go active duty because I knew what I wanted to do with my life. The reserve just fit in my life at that time."

She joined the Air Force Reserve in February 2011 and has been with the 911th AW ever since.

"I like that I work with the operations group," Pegnetter said. "I like understanding each responsibility of flying the planes. Knowing the navigators and engineers and everyone's separate part of how it works is why I like working here. It's interesting."

Two years ago, she went back to school for radiation therapy and now works as a therapist in the cancer center at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville.

Outside of the military, Pegnetter is an avid runner, and she often runs marathons like The Great Race and the EQT 10 Miler. She also enjoys yoga and baking healthy recipes.