Martha McSally

“I think there is a longing in everyone for a personal relationship with God.”

“The whole idea of deterrence is to convince your enemy that you are willing and able to make it so painful for them to continue on a threatening or bellicose course that they change their behavior.”

“Our troops should not conform to customs that represent the marginalization of people and are incongruent with our fundamental values.”

“I served my country in uniform for 26 years.”

“From flying in the cockpit of an A-10 to chairing hearings on Capitol Hill, I've learned that each of us will face struggles as we pursue our goals.”

“I have three older brothers. I'm Irish. I'm feisty.”

“North Korea is not even close to being a near peer to South Korea or, much less, the United States.”

“When you value people, you give them freedom.”

“As an A-10 squadron commander in the Air Force, I was required to be ready to deploy my 24 Warthogs and team anywhere in the world within 24 hours, including the Korean Peninsula.”

“Before I became a fighter pilot, everyone said that women didn't have the physical strength. Well, I had just completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon.”

“If I was a guy, based on how I performed in pilot training, I would have been able to have selected a fighter. I mean, I have always said unemotionally, if we want the best fighting force, why would we have 50 percent of our population not competing for these positions?”

“I just personally decided I was going to be the first woman fighter pilot.”

“When American troops find themselves fighting for their lives, there is no better sound than an A-10 - a plane officially nicknamed the Thunderbolt II but known affectionately by the troops as the Warthog - firing its enormous 30-millimeter gun at the enemy.”

“American servicewomen will continue to be viewed as second-class warriors if leaders push them to take up the customs of countries where women are second-class citizens.”

“I think my being a combat pilot, being a woman who has had to break down barriers and succeed in a male-dominated environment, and, I think, just being in the military for 26 years have all helped me.”

“Maybe I'll start a little group of us that's called the Don't Do Stupid Stuff caucus. I'm going to be in the D.D.S.S. caucus. I'm going to lead it. There's no reason for us to be doing stupid things that are not getting us anywhere.”