Marija Jovanovich

Born in Kruševac, Yugoslavia, in 1982, Jovanovich is the eldest of three daughters of surgeons Snežana and Aleksandar Jovanovich. The family left Yugoslavia in 1995 to escape from the Yugoslav Wars, and settled in New Zealand. Jovanovich arrived not knowing any English. She attended high school in Auckland and first began learning to fly in a Cessna 152 at the Walsh Memorial Flying School in Matamata. In 1999, beginning with her father Aleksandar, the family began moving to Australia; Jovanovich followed later in the year, after graduating from high school. ==Military career==

Jovanovich joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 2001 and studied at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) from 2001 to 2004. In 2004 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science majoring in mathematics and physics, with first class Honours and a University Medal in physics. Jovanovich undertook flying training on the CT-4B and PC-9/A aircraft and graduated from No. 206 Pilots Course in 2006. After graduating from ADFA and pilot training, she flew the P3 Orion on operations and exercises all over the world, including the Middle East, US, Asia, and Southwest Pacific. She earned her Masters in Systems Engineering in 2013. She was the first Australian in 25 years to complete the course. Jovanovich was promoted to the rank of group captain in 2023, becoming the first female pilot in the RAAF to achieve this rank. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2025 Australia Day Honours. ==Awards==

• 2019 – Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious achievement and devotion to duty as the initial Commander of Task Element 629.3.1.1 during operation PHILIPPINES ASSIST, supporting the liberation of Marawi. • 2025 – Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours. ==References==