Martha Elizabeth McSally is a former military pilot turned politician who served as a United States senator for Arizona. She held the office from 2019 to 2020. Prior to becoming a senator, she was the United States representative for Arizona's 2nd congressional district. Born to a middle-class family in Rhode Island, she had a difficult childhood as her father died when she was very young. Her mother struggled to raise Martha and her siblings by herself. Martha was a good student and was the valedictorian at her school. She later joined the United States Air Force Academy and graduated with a degree in biology. She furthered her studies at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government before joining pilot training. She worked as a military pilot for several years and became the first United States woman to fly in combat before retiring and returning to civilian life. She then ventured into politics and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2014. She was endorsed by then-President Donald Trump in her 2018 Senate campaign. Long-time US senator John McCain died in 2018, and McSally succeeded him as the senator, taking office in early 2019. Her tenure ended in 2020.
