Flight For Life-Waukesha Base Pilot Honored with 2013 NEMSPA Pilot of the Year Award

City of Waukesha, WI---October 22, 2013 – On Monday night, at the Air Medical Transport Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Janis Sierra, Flight For Life-Waukesha Base Lead Pilot, was recognized as the 2013 National EMS Pilots Association (NEMSPA) Pilot of the Year.

This prestigious award is presented by NEMSPA to a pilot who exhibits not only technical expertise in flying aircraft, but who is also very much a part of their own air medical transport team. The recipient of this award is someone who is a mentor to their peers, concerned with the quality of all aspects of services provided by their organization, and who, above all, is committed to advocating for and practicing safety in all flight operations.

Janis has been a helicopter pilot for 38 years, joining Flight For Life in May, 1987, at the McHenry base. She was the very first female EMS helicopter pilot in the U.S. Janis truly blazed a trail as a female pilot in a primarily male dominated profession, beginning with her career in the Army as a helicopter pilot in 1976. She held a variety of aviation positions during her time with the military – one of which included flying the large CH-54 Sky Crane helicopters.

As a Flight For Life pilot, Janis brings calm professionalism, experience and leadership to the job every day. She freely shares her knowledge and expertise with colleagues inside and outside of the organization, as well as the many hospitals and EMS agencies she interacts with on a daily basis. An unexpected delight for Janis during the course of her work was to meet and marry Pat Sierra – who is now retired from the Milwaukee Fire Department; they have two young adult sons, Jesse and Nicholas, of whom they are very proud.

Janis’ caring attitude and dedication to air medical patient transport is only superseded by her devotion to safety as her number one priority. Jim Singer, Transport System Director, remarked, “Flight For Life has truly been blessed to have Janis as one of our pilots for all these years. Her exceptional skill and commitment to safety has made her an extraordinary team member.”

Flight For Life has flown over 32,000 patients – and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2014. Janis is part of the fabric that forms the foundation of Flight For Life. We could not be more proud of Janis winning this award – a pinnacle of achievement that recognizes all that she gives to Flight For Life, its patients, and the communities we serve.