JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - Air Force officials selected Capt. Eleanor "Ellie" Morgan, a C-17 Globemaster III pilot assigned to the 4th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as the winner of the 2012 Federally Employed Women Military Meritorious Service Award.

"This award means the world to me," said Morgan, a Bethlehem, Penn., native. "I feel truly honored to have been nominated and hope that I can continue to help provide learning and growth opportunities for other women."

According to her nomination package, Morgan was instrumental in the 4th Airlift Squadron's Pilot for a Day program for children with terminal illnesses, which raised more than $5,000 and ultimately provided the opportunity for 12 children and their families to participate in an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Morgan counts her involvement in this program as one of her most proud accomplishments.

"The program has given children and their families the unique opportunity to spend a day in the life of a C-17 pilot and get to participate in all kinds of unique hands-on activities," said Morgan. "I think the most rewarding part of it is knowing how meaningful it is for the families. They will cherish those memories for a lifetime, especially since many of our children in the program often suffer from various illnesses, some of which are terminal."

In addition to the Pilot for a Day program, Morgan coordinated a former Women's Air Service Pilot to speak at Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Women's History Month luncheon this year and while deployed she volunteered at a school for deaf children in Adana, Turkey, where she planned a holiday party and raised more than $1,000 for the school.

Morgan is a C-17 aircraft commander with more than 1,200 flight hours. She has accumulated more than 500 combat hours flying in support of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn, in addition to supporting humanitarian relief efforts around the globe.

"Ellie is truly an inspiring woman and well deserving of this award," said Lt. Col. Thomas O'Connell, 4th Airlift Squadron commander.

Morgan graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in systems engineering. She is a member of Academy Women (a non-profit organization which supports the personal and professional growth of current, former, and future women military officers), The Ninety-Nines (an international organization of female pilots in support of advancing women in aviation), and Women Military Aviators, Inc. (a corporation formed to promote and preserve the role of women pilots, navigators, and aircrew in the service of their country during times of war and peace). Her involvement in these organizations provides her with an opportunity to connect with other females in similar career fields.

"I think it's very important to encourage women to explore and pursue their interests in these fields and to provide them with role models and mentors that they can look up to, ask questions and learn from," said Morgan. "They may never know what they are truly capable of or have the potential to achieve without exposing them to the limitless opportunities that lay before them!"

The FEW award will be presented to Morgan's representative in July at the 43rd National Training Program ceremony in Detroit, Mich. Morgan will be unable to accept the award because she is currently deployed to Southwest Asia as a member of the Combined Air Operations Center. Her position there works with Diplomatic Clearances for aircraft within and around the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. She will return to JBLM this fall.

Photo: Capt. Eleanor “Ellie” Morgan is a C-17 Globemaster pilot assigned to the 4th Airlift Squadron.