The Right Path Isn't Always the Easiest

Educating others that she's the right woman for the job.
"If you want to do it, you can do it. Just set your mind to it." Dr. Rouscher pushes and encourages her students and truly believes in them. Her impact is evident through students' praises and successes. Several of them have remained in contact and keep her appraised of their accomplishments. Despite the predominantly male landscape, Dr. Rouscher remains passionate about increasing diversity in aviation. "Diversity in aviation needs to grow." Women make up only 2.6% of aviation mechanics and she says her classes are still predominantly male. 
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman with short brown hair and wearing blue coverall jacket, working on the fuselage of an airplane in a large aircraft aviation maintenance hangar
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman with short brown hair and wearing blue coverall jacket, working on the fuselage of an airplane in a large aircraft aviation maintenance hangar
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman with short brown hair and wearing blue coverall jacket, working on the fuselage of an airplane in a large aircraft aviation maintenance hangar
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman with short brown hair and wearing blue coverall jacket, working on the fuselage of an airplane in a large aircraft aviation maintenance hangar

Breaking In

Dr. Gail Rouscher's journey began in 1960’s Michigan, where her parents' military background instilled in her a strong desire to become a mechanic. Despite this desire, the path that would be laid out ahead of her would be riddled with challenges. Eager to serve in the military like her parents, she first tried the Marines, but faced gender bias when the Marines denied her application to become a mechanic after they told her “Can’t do it. You’re a girl.” Undeterred, she turned to the Navy, finding her place in aviation maintenance. 

While stationed stateside in Detroit Dr. Rouscher, as usual, was the only woman surrounded by men. She recalls how she quickly fit in, "when the guys realized that I could pull my weight." Dr. Rouscher became used to having to prove herself to her colleagues to gain acceptance. Par for the course in the 1980’s for a woman in military aviation. 
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair, in an aircraft hangar examining a propeller on a twin engine airplane. She is wearing safety glasses and has on a dark blue coverall.
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair, in an aircraft hangar examining a propeller on a twin engine airplane. She is wearing safety glasses and has on a dark blue coverall.
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair, in an aircraft hangar examining a propeller on a twin engine airplane. She is wearing safety glasses and has on a dark blue coverall.
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair, in an aircraft hangar examining a propeller on a twin engine airplane. She is wearing safety glasses and has on a dark blue coverall.

Things Don't Always Go as Planned

Transitioning from military to civilian life wasn't smooth either. There were no jobs available to her that she could transition to from her career in the military. Her life took a turn when she became a mother. "I loved being a mechanic and it's great, but I needed to do more for my kids." Determined to secure a better future for her children, she pursued a degree in aviation mechanics. Originally never having plans to go to secondary school Dr. Rouscher recalls, "I didn't take the SATs, I knew I was going military all the way." Her determination led her through vocational school, associate's, bachelor's, master's, and eventually a doctorate. 
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair, in a large aircraft hangar inspecting a baggage compartment from the cowl of an airplane. She is wearing safety glasses and is wearing a mechanics coverall.
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair, in a large aircraft hangar inspecting a baggage compartment from the cowl of an airplane. She is wearing safety glasses and is wearing a mechanics coverall.
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair, in a large aircraft hangar inspecting a baggage compartment from the cowl of an airplane. She is wearing safety glasses and is wearing a mechanics coverall.
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair, in a large aircraft hangar inspecting a baggage compartment from the cowl of an airplane. She is wearing safety glasses and is wearing a mechanics coverall.

Only 2.6% of Aviation Mechanics are Women

With the 2008 recession, Dr. Rouscher shifted towards teaching and sharing her extensive knowledge. Dr. Rouscher's classes aimed to empower students, especially women, to break the gender barriers in aviation mechanics. Still battling gender stereotypes, Dr. Rouscher wasn't allowed to work in fabrication. She was told that it was "too crude of an environment for a woman." Having been frustrated with her lack of opportunity to advance in her present position, she was ready to quit and relocate. It was at that time that another department offered her a chance to work in the sheet metal department. The only reason she could ever come to conclude about why she was denied a position before this time was the misogynistic belief that women didn't want to "get dirty". Dr. Rouscher believes that getting dirty is a "fun part of the job." 
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair wearing a black short sleeved shirt, is writing on a white board with a green marker. She is teaching fuel systems in a classroom hangar with airplanes in the background
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair wearing a black short sleeved shirt, is writing on a white board with a green marker. She is teaching fuel systems in a classroom hangar with airplanes in the background
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair wearing a black short sleeved shirt, is writing on a white board with a green marker. She is teaching fuel systems in a classroom hangar with airplanes in the background
Abingdon Co image displays Dr Gail Rouscher, a woman in her fifties with short brown hair wearing a black short sleeved shirt, is writing on a white board with a green marker. She is teaching fuel systems in a classroom hangar with airplanes in the background

Kindness That Goes Beyond the Classroom

Joining Western Michigan College of Aviation, Dr. Rouscher became the first woman to teach in the maintenance department over 14 years ago. "Being a woman in aviation mechanics is hard because it's difficult to do without proper support." Facing the challenges of being a minority, she champions kindness, acceptance, and support for all. "You have to be kind to everybody, if someone's going through something help them." Dr. Rouscher's caring nature goes beyond the classroom. She genuinely cares about people and wants them to come to her for help no matter what the issue is from just needing an ear for listening or needing help with groceries.
What she says about her Abingdon watches

Dr. Rouscher's encounter with Abingdon at the Air Race Classic underscored her belief in supporting women-led businesses. Mechanics rarely get to enjoy the festivities at this event because their focus is on inspecting the aircraft entered into the race. Having been one of the sponsors of the event, Abingdon had set aside refreshments for the mechanics to enjoy, and that was a gesture that Dr. Rouscher says she appreciated. 

The doctor's journey exemplifies perseverance, breaking barriers, and fostering inclusion in a male-dominated industry. Dr. Rouscher is an avid collector of Abingdon watches. "They are a gift to myself…one I bought when I got my Ph.D. and for my birthday." She loves to support women in business and "loves how accepting Abingdon is of everyone and that's what draws her brand to me".
Abingdon Co. image displays Amelia Runway Black with a painted brass dial, sapphire crystal and a silver stainless steel case and crown with a genuine black leather strap. watch is in an upward front view photo. Silver steel case and crown watch with black dial and silver and white hands with a smaller hand being red as well as black genuine leather strap. watch band is clipped together and case is in an upward position.
What she wears:
Amelia Watch
Swiss GMT, E6B Flight Computer, Date Function, 4 Hand