Northwest Aerospace News April | May Issue No.14 | Page 70

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Rachel speaking at the 2019 Military Spouse Empowerment
Summit at Whidbey Island, which was sponsored by Boeing
QUIETLY MAKING A
By Rachel Peterson
POSITIVE IMPACT:
Since I was a kid growing up in Seattle, I have had an insatiable love of trav-
el, turning strangers into friends, and finding common threads that connect
us. My desire to better understand the world led me to Washington, D.C.,
where I began working at a nonprofit organization focused on supporting
democratic institutions in the Middle East. From the United Nations Human
Rights Council in Geneva to a conference in Lebanon, and myriad places in
between, I spent countless hours at 30,000 feet. That began my unwavering
love of flight.
My career path led me to Senator Patty Murray’s team, where I worked on
policy issues including transportation and national security. I learned how
budget cycles impact everything from the aerospace supply chain to our na-
tion’s defense, and was able to support many public-private partnerships that
benefit our region today. I also discovered what many of you already know:
the Pacific Northwest is truly an industrial powerhouse!
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